America's Public Philosopher
Essays on Social Justice, Economics, Education, and the Future of Democracy
Published on 12. January 2021
Book
Hardback
352 pages
978-0-231-19894-3 (ISBN)
Description
John Dewey was America's greatest public philosopher. His work stands out for its remarkable breadth, and his deep commitment to democracy led him to courageous progressive stances on issues such as war, civil liberties, and racial, class, and gender inequalities. This book collects the clearest and most powerful of his public writings and shows how they continue to speak to the challenges we face today.
An introductory essay and short introductions to each of the texts discuss the current relevance and significance of Dewey's work and legacy. The book includes forty-six essays on topics such as democracy in the United States, political power, education, economic justice, science and society, and philosophy and culture. These essays inspire optimism for the possibility of a more humane public and political culture, in which citizens share in the pursuit of lifelong education through participation in democratic life. The essays in America's Public Philosopher reveal John Dewey as a powerful example for anyone seeking to address a wider audience and a much-needed voice for all readers in search of intellectual and moral leadership.
An introductory essay and short introductions to each of the texts discuss the current relevance and significance of Dewey's work and legacy. The book includes forty-six essays on topics such as democracy in the United States, political power, education, economic justice, science and society, and philosophy and culture. These essays inspire optimism for the possibility of a more humane public and political culture, in which citizens share in the pursuit of lifelong education through participation in democratic life. The essays in America's Public Philosopher reveal John Dewey as a powerful example for anyone seeking to address a wider audience and a much-needed voice for all readers in search of intellectual and moral leadership.
Reviews / Votes
In these troubled times, Eric Thomas Weber has compiled a magnificent set of essays by John Dewey, the preeminent American public philosopher of the twentieth century. With the help of Weber's commentaries, all Americans will be able to see how Dewey still speaks to us today, with wisdom and urgency. -- Elizabeth Anderson, author of <i>Private Government: How Employers Rule Our Lives (and Why We Don't Talk about It)</i> In this collection Eric Weber presents expertly curated essays by one of America's great public intellectuals. John Dewey's insights into the core issues of American life, then as now, are as fresh today as when they were first published. They provide ample evidence of his continuing relevance for our exceptional time. -- Larry A. Hickman, editor of <i>The Correspondence of John Dewey</i> John Dewey is the American philosopher of democracy. He understood that democracy, making choices together, is an end in itself, and that attempts to short-circuit democratic processes in the name of something else, whether it's ethnic nationalism or globalization, diminish us as human beings. His wisdom never goes out of style. There is no better (or worse) time to read him again. -- Louis Menand, author of <i>The Metaphysical Club</i> This is an outstanding collection, unique and most timely, that should receive attention from the sphere of public policy and politics. Weber has chosen writings that speak to America and the world today. -- John Robert Shook, coeditor of <i>Dewey's Enduring Impact: Essays on America's Philosopher</i> An illuminating, succinct introduction that amplifies Dewey's interest in society as well as his hopeful idealism and belief in the divine. . . . Highly recommended. * Choice *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 156 mm
ISBN-13
978-0-231-19894-3 (9780231198943)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
John Dewey | Eric Thomas Weber
America's Public Philosopher
Essays on Social Justice, Economics, Education, and the Future of Democracy
E-Book
02/2021
1st Edition
Columbia University Press
€34.49
Available for download
John Dewey | Eric Thomas Weber
America's Public Philosopher
Essays on Social Justice, Economics, Education, and the Future of Democracy
Book
01/2021
Columbia University Press
€37.20
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
John Dewey (1859-1952) was a philosopher, psychologist, educational reformer, and public intellectual. He was a founder of a distinctly American philosophical tradition, pragmatism, and a progressive thinker who spoke out widely on the most important questions of his day.
Eric Thomas Weber is associate professor of educational policy studies and evaluation at the University of Kentucky. He is the author of Uniting Mississippi: Democracy and Leadership in the South (2015) and Democracy and Leadership: On Pragmatism and Virtue (2013), among other books. He is executive director of the Society of Philosophers in America and cohost of the Philosophy Bakes Bread radio show and podcast.
Eric Thomas Weber is associate professor of educational policy studies and evaluation at the University of Kentucky. He is the author of Uniting Mississippi: Democracy and Leadership in the South (2015) and Democracy and Leadership: On Pragmatism and Virtue (2013), among other books. He is executive director of the Society of Philosophers in America and cohost of the Philosophy Bakes Bread radio show and podcast.
Content
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Democratic Faith and Education in Unstable Times, by Eric Thomas Weber
Part I: Democracy and the United States
1. Democracy Is Radical
2. Address to National Negro Conference
3. A Symposium on Woman's Suffrage
4. The Challenge of Democracy to Education
5. America in the World
6. Our National Dilemma
7. Pragmatic America
8. The Basic Values and Loyalties of Democracy
9. Creative Democracy-The Task Before Us
Part II: Politics and Power
10. Politics and Culture
11. Intelligence and Power
12. Force, Violence, and the Law
13. Why I Am Not a Communist
14. Dualism and the Split Atom
15. Is There Hope for Politics?
16. A Liberal Speaks Out for Liberalism
17. Future of Liberalism
Part III: Education
18. What Is a School For?
19. Dewey Outlines Utopian Schools
20. Industrial Education-A Wrong Kind
21. Why Have Progressive Schools?
22. Can Education Share in Social Reconstruction?
23. Nationalizing Education
24. The Teacher and the Public
25. Democracy and Education in the World of Today
Part IV: Social Ethics and Economic Justice
26. Capitalistic or Public Socialism?
27. Does Human Nature Change?
28. The Ethics of Animal Experimentation
29. Ethics and International Relations
30. Dewey Describes Child's New World
31. The Collapse of a Romance
32. The Economic Situation: A Challenge to Education
33. The Jobless-A Job for All of Us
Part V: Science and Society
34. The Influence of Darwinism on Philosophy
35. Science, Belief and the Public
36. Social Science and Social Control
37. Education and Birth Control
38. The Supreme Intellectual Obligation
39. The Revolt against Science
Part VI: Philosophy and Culture
40. The Case of the Professor and the Public Interest
41. Social Absolutism
42. Some Factors in Mutual National Understanding
43. The Basis for Hope
44. Art as Our Heritage
45. The Value of Historical Christianity
46. What Humanism Means to Me
References
Index
Introduction: Democratic Faith and Education in Unstable Times, by Eric Thomas Weber
Part I: Democracy and the United States
1. Democracy Is Radical
2. Address to National Negro Conference
3. A Symposium on Woman's Suffrage
4. The Challenge of Democracy to Education
5. America in the World
6. Our National Dilemma
7. Pragmatic America
8. The Basic Values and Loyalties of Democracy
9. Creative Democracy-The Task Before Us
Part II: Politics and Power
10. Politics and Culture
11. Intelligence and Power
12. Force, Violence, and the Law
13. Why I Am Not a Communist
14. Dualism and the Split Atom
15. Is There Hope for Politics?
16. A Liberal Speaks Out for Liberalism
17. Future of Liberalism
Part III: Education
18. What Is a School For?
19. Dewey Outlines Utopian Schools
20. Industrial Education-A Wrong Kind
21. Why Have Progressive Schools?
22. Can Education Share in Social Reconstruction?
23. Nationalizing Education
24. The Teacher and the Public
25. Democracy and Education in the World of Today
Part IV: Social Ethics and Economic Justice
26. Capitalistic or Public Socialism?
27. Does Human Nature Change?
28. The Ethics of Animal Experimentation
29. Ethics and International Relations
30. Dewey Describes Child's New World
31. The Collapse of a Romance
32. The Economic Situation: A Challenge to Education
33. The Jobless-A Job for All of Us
Part V: Science and Society
34. The Influence of Darwinism on Philosophy
35. Science, Belief and the Public
36. Social Science and Social Control
37. Education and Birth Control
38. The Supreme Intellectual Obligation
39. The Revolt against Science
Part VI: Philosophy and Culture
40. The Case of the Professor and the Public Interest
41. Social Absolutism
42. Some Factors in Mutual National Understanding
43. The Basis for Hope
44. Art as Our Heritage
45. The Value of Historical Christianity
46. What Humanism Means to Me
References
Index