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Line 34: − ==Rejecting Soviet Communism== − Dewey chaired the 1937 “trial” of [[Leon Trotsky]], held in Mexico City. The trial absolved Trotsky of attempting to assassinate [[Joseph Stalin]] and incite war against the Soviet Union. Overall, the hearings constituted a decisive moment in American liberalism, which had previously been uncritical in its praise of Soviet Communism. By the time of the trial. Dewey and many American liberals began to examine the Russian Revolution more closely and became convinced of its corruption.<ref> Jay Martin, "John Dewey and the Trial of Leon Trotsky," ''Partisan Review'' 2001 68(4): 519-535. 0031-2525 </ref> At no time in his career was Dewey a [[Marxist]]; indeed he was a sharp, hostile critic of Marx. Line 70:
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'''John Dewey''' (1859-1952) was a major American philosopher and a leading [[liberal]] commentator on public affairs. A student of [[Charles Peirce]] he was a leading exponent of [[pragmatism]] and [[instrumentalism]]. Dewey was especially influential as the 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.
'''John Dewey''' (1859-1952) 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]]". Dewey was especially influential as the 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.
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.
Dewey taught philosophy at the University of Michigan until 1894, when he was called to the University of Chicago, where President W. R. Harper was creating overnight one of the world's two or three greatest universities. Dewey headed the School of Education, and worked closely with philosophers and with the intellectuals based at [[Hull House]]. His now adopted the philosophy of [[pragmatism]] that had been developed by [[Charles Sanders Peirce]] and [{William James]]. By 1903 the "Chicago school" of Pragmatic Instrumentalism was in full swing, and the educational experiments initiated in Dewey's "laboratory school" were beginning to influence educational theory at leading universities. After fighting with Harper Dewey went to Columbia University in 1904, where he was based until his retirement in 1930. Worldwide recognition was seen in his invitations to consult on educational policy with emerging nations, notably China, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, and the Soviet Union.
Dewey taught philosophy at the University of Michigan until 1894, when he was called to the University of Chicago, where President W. R. Harper was creating overnight one of the world's two or three greatest universities. Dewey headed the School of Education, and worked closely with philosophers and with the intellectuals based at [[Hull House]]. His now adopted the philosophy of [[pragmatism]] that had been developed by [[Charles Sanders Peirce]] and [{William James]]. By 1903 the "Chicago school" of Pragmatic Instrumentalism was in full swing, and the educational experiments initiated in Dewey's "laboratory school" were beginning to influence educational theory at leading universities. After fighting with Harper Dewey went to Columbia University in 1904, where he was based until his retirement in 1930. Worldwide recognition was seen in his invitations to consult on educational policy with emerging nations, notably China, Japan, Turkey, Mexico, and the Soviet Union.
===Anti-Communism===
Dewey played a major role in stopping Communist infiltration of the American intellectual community and in developing a liberal anti-Communist policy. He generally supported American foreign policy, including both World Wars, and was a strong opponent of both the Soviets and the Nazis. His argument that true liberals have to reject cooperation with Communists became the accepted liberal position.
Dewey generally supported American foreign policy, including both World Wars, and was a strong opponent of both the Soviets and the nazis.
Dewey was a longtime supporter of labor unions and in 1932-33 played a key role in purging Communists from the teachers' union, arguing they were not truly dedicated to education. He rejected the Communist position that the purpose of the union is to join the "class war" in order to promote the "cause of workers against employers." Nevertheless the Communists took control of the union and in 1935 Dewey helped start the Teachers Guild, a new anti-Communist union for teachers in New York City. In 1935 the national union expelled the Communist local and made Dewey's Teachers Guild the official union.
Dewey chaired the 1937 “trial” of [[Leon Trotsky]], held in Mexico City. The trial absolved Trotsky of attempting to assassinate [[Joseph Stalin]] and incite war against the Soviet Union. Overall, the hearings constituted a decisive moment in American liberalism, which had previously been uncritical in its praise of Soviet Communism. By the time of the trial. Dewey and many American liberals began to examine the Russian Revolution more closely and became convinced of its corruption.<ref> Jay Martin, "John Dewey and the Trial of Leon Trotsky," ''Partisan Review'' 2001 68(4): 519-535. 0031-2525 </ref> At no time in his career was Dewey a [[Marxist]]; indeed he was a sharp, hostile critic of Marx.
==Democracy==
==Democracy==
Just before the [[May Fourth movement]] of 1919, Dewey was invited to China by members of China's new intellectual circles. In the following two years, Dewey toured and lectured in many cities in China and systematically propagated pragmatism. Pragmatism caught on wildly, prevailing throughout intellectual and educational circles. At the same time, because his theories fitted in with the needs of the May Fourth movement's ideological emancipation and China's economic development and educational reform, Dewey became the focus of the media and a favorite foreign thinker and educator in intellectual circles in China. Many scholars absorbed pragmatism's positivist spirit and developed Chinese modern positivist philosophy and historical studies. In the meantime, Dewey's educational theory also became the soul of the new educational system of China through its influence on the key links in the reforms and on the standards and curricula of the new educational system. Pragmatism was replaced by Marxism after 1949, but Dewey's reputation has been revived since the fall of Mao.
Just before the [[May Fourth movement]] of 1919, Dewey was invited to China by members of China's new intellectual circles. In the following two years, Dewey toured and lectured in many cities in China and systematically propagated pragmatism. Pragmatism caught on wildly, prevailing throughout intellectual and educational circles. At the same time, because his theories fitted in with the needs of the May Fourth movement's ideological emancipation and China's economic development and educational reform, Dewey became the focus of the media and a favorite foreign thinker and educator in intellectual circles in China. Many scholars absorbed pragmatism's positivist spirit and developed Chinese modern positivist philosophy and historical studies. In the meantime, Dewey's educational theory also became the soul of the new educational system of China through its influence on the key links in the reforms and on the standards and curricula of the new educational system. Pragmatism was replaced by Marxism after 1949, but Dewey's reputation has been revived since the fall of Mao.
==Dewey and religion==
==Dewey and religion==
===Primary sources===
===Primary sources===
* Dewey, John. ''The Collected Works of John Dewey'' (37 vol. 1961-1991). ''The Early Works: 1892-1898'' (5 volumes); ''The Middle Works: 1899-1924'' (15 volumes); ''The Later Works: 1925-1953'' (17 volumes); [http://www.siu.edu/~siupress/deweycollection.htm contents]
* Dewey, John. ''The Collected Works of John Dewey'' (37 vol. 1961-1991). ''The Early Works: 1892-1898'' (5 volumes); ''The Middle Works: 1899-1924'' (15 volumes); ''The Later Works: 1925-1953'' (17 volumes); [http://www.siu.edu/~siupress/deweycollection.htm contents]
[[File:Dewey-works.jpg|thumb|580px]]
===Selected books by Dewey===
===Selected books by Dewey===
* Dewey, John. '' Outlines of a Critical Theory of Ethics'' (1891) [http://books.google.com/books?id=dDwSArwOof4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:john+inauthor:dewey&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=1923&num=30&as_brr=1&as_pt=ALLTYPES full text online]
* Dewey, John. '' Outlines of a Critical Theory of Ethics'' (1891) [http://books.google.com/books?id=dDwSArwOof4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=inauthor:john+inauthor:dewey&lr=&as_drrb_is=b&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=1923&num=30&as_brr=1&as_pt=ALLTYPES full text online]