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America’s Philosophical Vision

In these previously uncollected essays, Smith argues that
American philosophers like Peirce, James, Royce, and
Dewey have forged a unique philosophical tradition—one
that is rich and complex enough to represent a genuine
alternative to the analytic, phenomenological, and
hermeneutical traditions which have originated in Britain
or Europe.

"In my judgment, John Smith has no equal today in
combining two scholarly qualities: the analysis of
philosophical texts with penetration and rigor, and the
discernment of what it is in these texts that matters.
These qualities are in evidence throughout the essays in
America’s Philosophical Vision. Whether he is
evaluating Rorty’s view of Dewey; the pragmatic theory of
experience and truth; theories of freedom, creativity,
and the self; Royce’s conception of community; or
synoptic philosophic visions, Smith always succeeds in
uniting a comprehensive understanding of philosophic
writings with a sure grasp of their import for human
culture and aspiration. It is a great benefit to
students of American thought that these papers have now
been collected into one volume."—James Gouinlock, Emory
University

222 pages | 6 x 9 | © 1992

History: American History

Philosophy: American Philosophy

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
I. Experience, Freedom, and the Pragmatic Outlook
1. The Reconception of Experience in Peirce, James and Dewey
2. The Pragmatic Theory of Truth: The Typical Objection
3. Two Defenses of Freedom: Peirce and James
4. Radical Empiricism
5. The Reflexive Turn, the Linguistic Turn, and the Pragmatic Outcome
6. The Critique of Abstractions and the Scope of Reason
II. Community and the Self
7. Royce: The Absolute and the Beloved Community Revisited
8. The Value of Community: Dewey and Royce
9. Creativity in Royce’s Philosophical Idealism
10. Signs, Selves and Interpretation
III. Overview
11. Receptivity, Change and Relevance: Some Hallmarks of Philosophy in America
Index

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