| − | '''John Dewey''' (October 20, 1859 - June 1, 1952) was a major American philosopher and a leading [[liberal]] commentator on public affairs. After 1900 he became a leading exponent of [[pragmatism]] or as he called it, "[[instrumentalism]]". | + | '''John Dewey''' (October 20, 1859 - June 1, 1952) was a major American philosopher and a leading [[liberal]] commentator on public affairs. After 1900 he became a leading exponent of [[pragmatism]] or as he called it, "instrumentalism". He viewed the intellect as something that strive instrumentally for future experiences, or a vehicle for processing problems. Dewey focused on everyday life, and excluded metaphysical musings.<ref>http://www.tparents.org/Library/Unification/Books/Euth/Euth06-04.htm</ref> |
| − | * The philosopher who perfected pragmatism was John Dewey (1859-1952). Dewey advocated the theory of instrumentalism, saying that the intellect is something that works instrumentally toward future experiences, or a means for processing problems effectively. Contrary to James, who admitted religious truth, Dewey dealt only with everyday life, excluding any metaphysical thought. [http://www.tparents.org/Library/Unification/Books/Euth/Euth06-04.htm]
| + | Dewey was especially influential as an advocate and philosopher of "progressive education." He sought the reconstruction of society through education in which children discovered knowledge for themselves rather than repeat rote learning. Dewey was one of the main intellectual forces behind American liberalism, 1900–1930, especially in his emphasis that the spirit of democracy has to be lived daily rather than be merely a procedural device for elections. |
| − | Dewey was especially influential as the most well known philosopher of "progressive education." He sought the reconstruction of society through education in which children discovered knowledge for themselves rather than repeat rote learning. Dewey was one of the main intellectual forces behind American liberalism, 1900–1930, especially in his emphasis that the spirit of democracy has to be lived daily rather than be merely a procedural device for elections. | |
| | Although pragmatism faded in importance in American philosophy after 1930, it has seen a revival since the 1980s with the writings of [[Richard Rorty]], [[Hilary Putnam]], and others. Dewey was a very prolific writer, with dozens of books and 766 articles in 151 different periodicals. His style, however, tended toward vagueness.[[File:Dewey-time.jpg|thumb|290px|''Time'' June 4, 1928; [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,731843,00.html read the cover story]]] | | Although pragmatism faded in importance in American philosophy after 1930, it has seen a revival since the 1980s with the writings of [[Richard Rorty]], [[Hilary Putnam]], and others. Dewey was a very prolific writer, with dozens of books and 766 articles in 151 different periodicals. His style, however, tended toward vagueness.[[File:Dewey-time.jpg|thumb|290px|''Time'' June 4, 1928; [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,731843,00.html read the cover story]]] |