William James

Broschiertes Buch

Pragmatism

A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking

Beschreibung

Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking is an American philosophy classic by the great American writer and philosopher, William James. Pragmatism is a philosophical approach that seeks to both define truth and resolve metaphysical issues. William James demonstrates an application of his method in the form of a simple story: A live squirrel supposed to be clinging on one side of a tree-trunk; while over against the tree's opposite side a human being was imagined to stand. This human witness tries to get sight of the squirrel by moving rapidly round the tree, but no matter how fast he goes, the squirrel moves as fast in the opposite direction, and always keeps the tree between himself and the man, so that never a glimpse of him is caught. The resultant metaphysical problem now is this: Does the man go round the squirrel or not? James solves the issue by making a distinction between practical meaning. That is, the distinction between meanings of "round." Round in the sense that the man occupies the space north, east, south, and west of the squirrel; and round in the sense that the man occupies the space facing the squirrel's belly, back and sides. Depending on what the debaters meant by "going round," the answer would be clear. From this example James derives the definition of the pragmatic method: to settle metaphysical disputes, one must simply make a distinction of practical consequences between notions, then, the answer is either clear, or the "dispute is idle." Both James and his colleague, Charles Sanders Peirce, coined the term "cash value.

Autor

William Canton (1845-1926) was a British author, poet, and journalist who wrote extensively on a wide range of topics, including children's literature, travel, and natural history. Born in Chichester, England, Canton began his career as a journalist, working for various newspapers and magazines in London. He later turned to write books, and is best known for his children's books, which include "A Child's Book of Saints," "The Invisible Playmate," and "W.V., Her Book." Canton's writing was characterized by its imaginative and lyrical style, as well as its focus on nature and spirituality. He was deeply interested in the natural world, and his books often included descriptions of animals, plants, and landscapes. In addition to his writing, Canton was also a respected lecturer and broadcaster and gave talks on a variety of subjects, including literature, religion, and science. He was known for his engaging and entertaining style, and was popular with audiences of all ages. Canton remained active as a writer and public speaker throughout his life, and his work continued to be well-regarded even after his death in 1926. His books for children, in particular, are still widely read and cherished for their warmth, wisdom, and poetic language.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Binker North
• Seitenzahl: 110
• Erscheinungstermin: 21. Juni 2023
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 229mm x 152mm x 6mm
• Gewicht: 173g
• ISBN-13: 9781774419823
• ISBN-10: 1774419823
• Artikelnr.: 68316116