Bloomsbury American Philosophy: From Wounded Knee to the Present

American Philosophy offers the first historically framed introduction to the tradition of American philosophy and its contemporary engagement with the world. Born out of the social and political turmoil of the Civil War, American philosophy was a means of dealing with conflict and change. In the turbulence of the 21st century, this remains as relevant as ever. Placing the work of present-day American philosophers in the context of a history of resistance, through a philosophical tradition marked by a commitment to pluralism, fallibilism and liberation, this book tells the story of a philosophy shaped by major events that call for reflection and illustrates the ways in which philosophy is relevant to lived experience. This book presents a survey of the historical development of American philosophy, as well as coverage of key contemporary issues in America including race theory, feminism, indigenous peoples, and environmentalism and is the ideal introduction to the work of the major American thinkers, past and present, and the sheer breadth of their ideas and influence. Review The most comprehensive and inclusive introductory guide to how philosophy in the United States has served a role in the history of domination and the struggle for liberation of all of its groups. This is timely and provocative. Pratt and McKenna demonstrate that there is a rich resistant strand of philosophy in America with its own history and shared principles that is still available and perhaps never more important. By presenting philosophical thought alongside historical events they make us rethink the history of American philosophy and demonstrate what Pragmatism means by the notion that philosophical ideas and concepts have been, and must continue to be put to work in the world. This splendid work is necessary reading for students, philosophers, historians, and sociologists. Gregory Fernando Pappas, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Texas A&M University, USA Extraordinary inclusivity is the word for this stunning, historical, and interpretive presentation of the rich and complex tapestry of American Philosophy. This book will be the primary scholarly resource for decades to come. Congratulations and gratitude to Erin McKenna and Scott Pratt. Of special note here is the recovery of virtually every unsung figure in the traditions of Native American philosophy, African-American philosophy, Latin American philosophy, and philosophical work by women. For those of us working in this rich vineyard beginning in the 1950s and 1960s with scholarly editions, and then the publication of the highly reputable Critical Editions of James, Dewey, Peirce, Santayana, and soon to be Royce, we now are given a philosophical landscaping of the past. Consequently, future discussions of all thinkers in the American Philosophical Tradition will be treated to what William James calls 'a thickening of the discussion.' Thickening, indeed! Here comes everybody, from everywhere on this continent. John Winthrop meets Dee Brown at Wounded Knee and Martin Luther King in the Birmingham jail. Such is the American philosophical covenant. John J. McDermott, University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Texas A&M University, USA --John J. McDermott, University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Texas A&M University, USA About the Author Erin McKenna is Professor of Philosophy at Pacific Lutheran University, USA. Scott L. Pratt is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oregon, USA.