Wiley-Blackwell A Companion to Pragmatism: 32 (Blackwell Companions to Philosophy)

A Companion to Pragmatism, comprised of 38 newly commissioned essays, provides comprehensive coverage of one of the most vibrant and exciting fields of philosophy today. Unique in depth and coverage of classical figures and their philosophies as well as pragmatism as a living force in philosophy. Chapters include discussions on philosophers such as John Dewey, Jürgen Habermas and Hilary Putnam. Review “This is a strong collection showing the variation in the different lines of thought stemming from the Pragmatists.” (Metapsychology, May 2009) "The essays, though assuming some acquaintance with the problems and history of philosophy, are clearly written and use a minimum of jargon. A brief but excellent introduction . . . and a good set of subject and name indexes complete the scholarly apparatus. Recommended."(Choice) Review “With this volume Margolis, Shook, and their collaborators celebrate the return of pragmatism to center stage of professional philosophy. Its 38 essays provide rich insights into the prospects of pragmatism as a family of methods poised to address twenty-first-century problems. Their volume is truly authoritative: its list of contributors reads like an honor roll of the field.” –Larry A. Hickman, Southern Illinois University“This is a splendid collection of articles about the major figures of the pragmatic tradition that also exhibits the vitality and diversity of this living tradition. Essential reading for anyone interested in the rich history, lively present debates, and promising future of pragmatic themes.” –Richard J. Bernstein, New School for Social Research “Unusually for an encyclopedic account, A Companion to Pragmatism is not afraid to adopt a particular interpretive approach. The introduction draws challenging conclusions about the relative importance of Peirce, James, and Dewey, but both the major figures covered and the themes developed in the book expand far beyond this original triumvirate and demonstrate the vitality and expansiveness of pragmatist philosophy.” –Charlene Haddock Seigfried, Purdue University From the Inside Flap A Companion to Pragmatism provides a comprehensive and current overview of one of the most vibrant and exciting fields of philosophy today. This volume of 38 predominantly new essays demonstrates understanding of the classical figures and their philosophies, while also displaying pragmatism as a living force in philosophy, producing original thought indebted to the founders. A Companion to Pragmatism is unique in its depth and breadth of coverage. It is an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to learn about the history and current thought of pragmatism. From the Back Cover A Companion to Pragmatism provides a comprehensive and current overview of one of the most vibrant and exciting fields of philosophy today. This volume of 38 predominantly new essays demonstrates understanding of the classical figures and their philosophies, while also displaying pragmatism as a living force in philosophy, producing original thought indebted to the founders. A Companion to Pragmatism is unique in its depth and breadth of coverage. It is an invaluable resource for anyone wishing to learn about the history and current thought of pragmatism. About the Author John R. Shook is Vice President for Research and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Inquiry, and Research Associate in Philosophy at the University at Buffalo. He is author of Dewey’s Empirical Theory of Knowledge and Reality (2000), editor of Pragmatic Naturalism and Realism (2003), and editor of the Dictionary of Modern American Philosophers (2005). He is also co-editor of the journal Contemporary Pragmatism. Joseph Margolis is Laura H. Carnell Professor of Philosophy at Temple University. His recent books include The Flux of History and the Flux of Science (1993), Historied Thought, Constructed World: A Conceptual Primer for the Turn of the Mi