William James on democratic individuality / Stephen S. Bush.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Bush, Stephen S., 1974- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

James, William, 1842-1910.

James, William.

Responsibility.

Physical Description:

xiii, 238 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2017.

Summary:

William James (1842-1910) argued for a philosophy of democracy and pluralism that advocates individual and collective responsibility for our social arrangements, our morality, and our religion. In James' view, democracy resides first and foremost not in governmental institutions or in procedures such as voting, but rather in the characteristics of individuals, and in qualities of mind and conduct. It is a philosophy for social change, counselling action and hope despite the manifold challenges facing democratic politics, and these issues still resonate strongly today. In this book, Stephen Bush explores how these themes connect to James' philosophy of religion, his moral thought, his epistemology, his psychology, and his metaphysics. His fresh and original study highlights the relevance of James' thought to modern debates, and will appeal to scholars and students of moral and political philosophy. -- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

The political James

Collective responsibility and truth

Collective responsibility for morality

Moral objectivity

Individuals and responsibility

Sensitivity to strangers

Individuality and social change

Heroes and citizens

Religion and motivation.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781107135956

1107135958

OCLC:

1001968060