In this comprehensive and critical study of James’s pragmatism, Ellen Kappy Suckiel analyzes his theories and establishes their value as a technical and systematic philosophy. Examining in detail James’s philosophical methodology and psychology, and his theories of meaning, truth, and reality, she demonstrates both the subtleties and limitations of his pragmatic philosophy. With extensive use of both primary and secondary sources throughout, she concludes her study with an analysis of James’s ethical theory and his controversial proposals concerning “the will to (...) believe.”. (shrink)

This chapter contains sections titled: The Foundations of James's Pragmatism “Experience” and Radical Empiricism The Will to Believe and the Justification of Faith Theory of Truth Ethics Philosophy of Religion.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose life spanned most of the nineteenth century, is widely regarded as one of the greatest sages in the history of American thought. Among educated American citizenry, Emerson is probably the most commonly read indigenous philosopher—and for good reason. Emerson presents a vision of human beings and their place in the universe which gives meaning and stature to the human condition. His profound, even religious, optimism, gives structure and import to even the smallest and apparently least significant (...) of human activities. The inspirational quality of Emerson's, prose, his willingness to travel far and wide to lecture, his ability to help people transcend the difficulties of the times, all led to his very great national as well as international significance. (shrink)

Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose life spanned most of the nineteenth century, is widely regarded as one of the greatest sages in the history of American thought. Among educated American citizenry, Emerson is probably the most commonly read indigenous philosopher—and for good reason. Emerson presents a vision of human beings and their place in the universe which gives meaning and stature to the human condition. His profound, even religious, optimism, gives structure and import to even the smallest and apparently least significant (...) of human activities. The inspirational quality of Emerson's, prose, his willingness to travel far and wide to lecture, his ability to help people transcend the difficulties of the times, all led to his very great national as well as international significance. (shrink)

Suckiel offers readers a new perspective on James. For those interested in the philosophy of religion in general, and James’s views in particular, this work will be of considerable interest.

This paper attempts to replace two predominant views about james' theory of meaning. First it is shown, Against some major commentators, That james does not have two independent or separable criteria of meaningfulness, But only one: a belief is meaningful if and only if it has predictive import and thus is such that consequences in the life of the believer follow from his holding it. Second, It is shown that james' theory is not a straightforward account of "cognitive" meaning. Rather (...) he is pointing to a different sort of meaning--"pragmatic" meaning. The uneasy relation between cognitive meaning and james' "pragmatic meaning" is explored. (shrink)