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'''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.

'''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.[[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]]]

==Career==

==Career==

Born in Vermont to an old Yankee family, Dewey was brought up in a religious environment of pius Congregationalists. He attended the University of Vermont, taught school for three years, then attended the new graduate university, John Hopkins, receiving his PhD in 1884 with a a doctoral dissertation on a phase of Kant's psychology.  At this stage Dewey was a strong Hegelian.

Born in Vermont to an old Yankee family, Dewey was brought up in a religious environment of pius Congregationalists. He attended the University of Vermont, taught school for three years, then attended the new graduate university, John Hopkins, receiving his PhD in 1884 with a a doctoral dissertation on a phase of Kant's psychology.  At this stage Dewey was a strong Hegelian.