Philosophy 3387 American Philosophy Unit Two
William James
Unit Two: Classical Pragmatism I (James and Peirce)
Dr. Cynthia Freeland
Section #10061, MW 1-2:30 p.m., 12 Agnes Arnold Hall
402 AH, 743-2993, cfreeland@uh.edu
Section #10061, MW 1-2:30 p.m., 12 Agnes Arnold Hall
402 AH, 743-2993, cfreeland@uh.edu
Sept. 9 Peirce and Early Pragmatism
C.S. Peirce, ," in Thayer, pp. 79-100, or in Goodman, pp. 37-49.
Dewey (in Thayer), "The Development of American Pragmatism," pp. 23-40.
West, Chapter 2 on Peirce (pp. 42-54)
Recommended: Thayer M&A, pp. 68-132.
Sept. 11 James and West
James, "What Pragmatism Means," (in Thayer, pp. 209-226; in Goodman, pp. 53-65.
James, "Pragmatism and Humanism," in Goodman, pp. 65-75.
West, Chapter 2 on James (pp. 54-68)
Recommended: Thayer M&A, pp. 133-64.
Sept. 16 Putnam, James, Truth
Putnam, "The Permanence of William James," 5-26.
James, "Pragmatism's Conception of Truth," in Thayer, pp. 227-44
James, "The Meaning of the Word Truth," in Thayer, pp. 249-50.
Sept. 18 James
James, "The Will to Believe", in Thayer, pp. 186-208.
Short assignment
Assignment for Unit II (on William James)
Due in class Mon, September 16
Consider the following statement in "Pragmatism's Conception of Truth." "Truth is made, just as health, wealth, and strength are made, in the course of experience." (Thayer, p. 236) Briefly discuss this statement and what James says to clarify it and defend it. Dewey in "The Development of American Pragmatism" says that one criticism that reflects a misunderstanding of pragmatism is "that it subordinates thought and rational activity to particular ends of interest and profit" (Thayer, p. 25). Consider James' statement in light of this common criticism, and discuss whether it is a misunderstanding in fact, as Dewey thinks it is.
Take-home essay topic to be announced.
, Course Materials from VPI by Gary Hardcastle
Lecture notes on Peirce
Notes on James, by Ki Hun Kim
