Select Works of John Dewey (11 vols.)

by John Dewey

Publishers:

University of Chicago Press; Macmillan Co.; Henry Holt & Co.

and

5 more

, 1888–1922

Overview

Along with Charles Sanders Peirce and William James, John Dewey is considered one of the central figures in American pragmatism. A philosophical tradition that continues to hold sway today, pragmatism identifies the usefulness and practical effect of belief as the proper focus of philosophy. Dewey initially considered himself a Hegelian, but later turned toward pragmatism as a result of James’ Principles of Psychology. The scope of Dewey’s interests, however, reflect Hegel’s influence. Dewey not only wrote about traditional philosophical subjects, but addressed topics such as art, education, culture, politics, and civil society. As a pragmatist, he considered these subjects under his rubric of “reconstruction,” the conviction that pragmatism represents a means of systematically reorienting philosophy from the “problems of philosophers” to “the problems of men.”

The Select Works of John Dewey includes works from Dewey’s early and middle periods, and reflects his transition from Hegelian idealism to pragmatism. Each volume is indexed, enabling you to search for a word or phrase with a click. You can use the dictionary lookup tool to define difficult concepts or phrases in the key texts that initiated Dewey’s career and legacy. These texts are integrated with the rest of your library, allowing for simple cross-referencing and side-by-side comparison.

Key Features

• Seminal works from Dewey’s early and middle writings
• Comprehensive indexes
• Illustrations

Product Details

• Title: Select Works of John Dewey
• Author: John Dewey
• Volumes: 11
• Pages: 3,018

About John Dewey

John Dewey (1859–1952) was born in Burlington, Vermont. He studied philosophy at the University of Vermont and worked as a primary and secondary school teacher after graduation. After receiving private instruction in philosophy from a former professor, Henry A. P. Torrey, Dewey decided to pursue a career in philosophy, enrolling in doctoral studies at Johns Hopkins University. There he studied under Charles Sanders Peirce, receiving his doctorate in 1884. Dewey taught at the University of Michigan (1884–1894), University of Chicago (1894–1904), and University of Columbia from 1904 until his retirement in 1930. While teaching at the University of Chicago, Dewey’s thought became distinctly pragmatist in orientation. During his appointment at the University of Columbia, he embraced the role of public intellectual and social commentator, writing in magazines like The New Republic and engaging in political activism. He was elected president of the American Psychological Association in 1899, and president of the American Philosophical Association in 1905. He died in 1952 at the age of ninety-two.