Abstract

John Dewey entered the period of the 1930's as a septuagenerian; he was seriously optimistic about the possible consequences of events in his country. From this optimism and great vitality, both reflecting the role of the World's greatest industrial power and most restless culture, Dewey published some of his most far-reaching studies: a series of searching articles entitled Individualism: Old and New (1930); the study Philosophy and Civilization (1931); in 1934 two studies breaking new ground for Dewey in theoretical areas, namely, Art as Experience and A Common Faith; his political views began to moderate into neo-liberalism by 1935 in his Liberalism and Social Action; much time and effort also went into his activities in support of Leon Trotsky's celebrated case in the late 'thirties; in 1938 another statement of his educational views was made in Experience and Education, and a significant addition to the literature of methodology appeared in his Logic: The Theory of Inquiry; lastly, in 1939 two further additions to the axiological literature were published -Theory of Valuation and Freedom and Culture.