Reconstructing Individualism
A Pragmatic Tradition from Emerson to Ellison
Published on 1. March 2012
Book
Hardback
368 pages
978-0-8232-4209-2 (ISBN)
Description
America has a love-hate relationship with individualism. In Reconstructing Individualism, James Albrecht argues that our conceptions of individualism have remained trapped within the assumptions of classic liberalism. He traces an alternative genealogy of individualist ethics in four major American thinkers-Ralph Waldo Emerson, William James, John Dewey, and Ralph Ellison.
These writers' shared commitments to pluralism (metaphysical and cultural), experimentalism, and a melioristic stance toward value and reform led them to describe the self as inherently relational. Accordingly, they articulate models of selfhood that are socially engaged and ethically responsible, and they argue that a reconceived-or, in Dewey's term, "reconstructed"-individualism is not merely compatible with but necessary to democratic community. Conceiving selfhood and community as interrelated processes, they call for an ongoing reform of social conditions so as to educate and liberate individuality, and, conversely, they affirm the essential role individuality plays in vitalizing communal efforts at reform.
These writers' shared commitments to pluralism (metaphysical and cultural), experimentalism, and a melioristic stance toward value and reform led them to describe the self as inherently relational. Accordingly, they articulate models of selfhood that are socially engaged and ethically responsible, and they argue that a reconceived-or, in Dewey's term, "reconstructed"-individualism is not merely compatible with but necessary to democratic community. Conceiving selfhood and community as interrelated processes, they call for an ongoing reform of social conditions so as to educate and liberate individuality, and, conversely, they affirm the essential role individuality plays in vitalizing communal efforts at reform.
Reviews / Votes
"What emerges from these discussions of an Emerson-inflected pragmatism is a convincing narrative of the development of a democratic theory that both maintains a standard of public responsibility and accountability, while preserving the vital role of individual moral reasoning and moral choice in that process. I consider this a very important contribution to the history of American ethical and political thought. This book will have an immediate impact on Emerson studies." -- -David M. Robinson Oregon State University, and author of Emerson and the Conduct of Life "Describes a genealogy of individualist ethics in Ralph Waldo Emerson, William James, John Dewey, and Ralph Ellison that departs from that of classical liberalism." -The Chronicle Review "Albrecht does a very good job of treating Emerson convincingly as a pragmatist precursor without losing sight of the complexity of Emerson's own prose and interpretive frames." -- -Joseph M. Thomas Albright College "Albrecht's thorough presentation of Emerson as a pluralist, relational individualist serves as a convincing backdrop for his reading of Pragmatism as an expression of a shared American individualist tradition." -Emerson Society PapersMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
658 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8232-4209-2 (9780823242092)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
03/2012
1st Edition
American Literatures Initiative
€63.99
Available for download
E-Book
03/2012
1st Edition
Fordham University Press
€51.49
Available for download
Person
James M. Albrecht is Associate Professor of English and Dean of Humanities at Pacific Lutheran University.