The American evasion of philosophy : a genealogy of pragmatism / Cornel West.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

West, Cornel.

Series:

Wisconsin project on American writers.

The Wisconsin project on American writers

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Philosophy, American--History.

Philosophy, American.

Pragmatism--History.

Pragmatism.

Physical Description:

279 p.

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Madison, Wis. : University of Wisconsin Press, c1989.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Taking Emerson as his starting point, Cornel West's basic task in this ambitious enterprise is to chart the emergence, development, decline, and recent resurgence of American pragmatism. John Dewey is the central figure in West's pantheon of pragmatists, but he treats as well such varied mid-century representatives of the tradition as Sidney Hook, C. Wright Mills, W. E. B. Du Bois, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Lionel Trilling. West's "genealogy" is, ultimately, a very personal work, for it is imbued throughout with the author's conviction that a thorough reexamination of American pragmatism may help inspire and instruct contemporary efforts to remake and reform American society and culture. "West... may well be the pre-eminent African American intellectual of our generation."-The Nation " The American Evasion of Philosophy is a highly intelligent and provocative book. Cornel West gives us illuminating readings of the political thought of Emerson and James; provides a penetrating critical assessment of Dewey, his central figure; and offers a brilliant interpretation-appreciative yet far from uncritical-of the contemporary philosopher and neo-pragmatist Richard Rorty.... What shines through, throughout the work, is West's firm commitment to a radical vision of a philosophic discourse as inextricably linked to cultural criticism and political engagement."-Paul S. Boyer, professor emeritus of history, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Wisconsin Project on American Writers Frank Lentricchia, General Editor

Contents:

Intro

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1 The Emersonian Prehistory of American Pragmatism

Emerson on Power (and Tradition)

Emerson on Provocation (and the Market)

Emerson on Personality (and Race)

Emerson on Organic Intellectual

2 The Historic Emergence of American Pragmatism

Peirce on Scientific Method, Community, and Christian Love

James on Individuality, Reconciliation, and Heroic Energies

3 The Coming-of-Age of American Pragmatism: John Dewey

Dewey on Historical Consciousness, Critical Intelligence, and creative Democracy

4 The Dilemma of the Mid-Century Pragmatic Intellectual

Sidney Hook: The Deweyen Political Intellecrual

C. Wright Mills: The Neo-Deweyan Radical Social Critic

W.E.B. Du Bois: The Jamesian Cultural Critic

Reinhold Niebuhr: The Jamesian Cultural Critic

Lionel Trilling: The Pragmatist as Arnoldian Literary Critic

5 the Decline and Resurgence of American Pragmatism: W.V. Quine and Richard Rorty

6. Prophetic Pragmatism: Cultural Criticism and Political Engagement

Roverto Unger and Third-Wave Left Romanticism

The Challenge of Michel Foucault

Tragedy, Tradition, and Political Praxis

Prophetic Pragmatism and Postmodernity

Notes

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786612697470

9781282697478

1282697471

9780299119638

0299119637

OCLC:

582727349