william james. american pragmatism americans were interested in the practical value of philosophy...
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William James
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American Pragmatism Americans were
interested in the practical value of philosophy and ideas. “What works?” is as important as “Why does something exist?”
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The Importance of Questions James grew up in a
home where questions were more important than answers. This would create a very stimulating environment for a young mind.
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The Metaphysical Club James joined in
philosophical discussions in a club at Harvard that provided a foundation for American intellectual thought for decades.
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The Will to Believe “Having rejected
suicide in favor of the possibility of a creative life unsupported by certitude, James developed a doctrine to sustain such a belief.”
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The Realm of Possibility “James assumes the
presence of meaning but remains pessimistic about the attainment of clarity, and above all, certitude.”
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Freedom “To be free, James
decides, is just to act as if one were free.” Belief in freedom is a condition of its existence.
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Truth “We help create the
truth of the world which we come to know, and we cannot help that.”
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Summary: Trust “For James, it is
precisely the ability of humans to enter into the relational fabric of the world, in a participative and liberating way, which enables him or her to become human.”