The Blackwell Guide to American Philosophy

The Blackwell Guide to American Philosophy offers the most ambitious survey to date of American philosophical thought.

Consisting of 23 newly commissioned chapters, each written by a leading scholar, the volume provides a state–of–the–art overview of the major eighteenth–, nineteenth–, and twentieth–century philosophical movements in America, including idealism, pragmatism, and naturalism. The contributors also look at the major figures in American philosophy ranging from Charles S. Peirce to Justus Buchler and examine major philosophical themes such as religion, education, and art. Each chapter includes a bibliography to inspire and facilitate further study.

Taken as whole, the book provides a comprehensive history of philosophical thought in America, suitable for both students and scholars of American philosophy.

Notes on Contributors.

Preface.

Editors Introduction.

PART I: HISTORICAL TRADITIONS.

1. Early American Philosophy (John Ryder).

2. Idealism in American Thought (Douglas Anderson).

3. The First Pragmatists (Joseph Margolis).

4. Naturalism (Michael Eldridge).

PART II. MAJOR FIGURES IN AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY.

5. C.S. Peirce, 1839–1914 (Vincent Colapietro).

6. William James, 1842–1910 (William J. Gavin).

7. Josiah Royce, 1855–1916 (Frank M. Oppenheim, SJ).

8. George Santayana, 1863–1952 (Herman J. Saatkamp, Jr.).

9. John Dewey, 1859–1952 (Larry A. Hickman).

10. George Herbert Mead, 1863–1931 (Mitchell Aboulafia).

11. Jane Addams, 1860–1935 (Charlene Haddock Seigfried).

12. W.E.B. Du Bois, 1868–1963 (Shannon Sullivan).

13. Alfred North Whitehead, 1861–1947 (John W. Lango).

14. C.I. Lewis, 1883–1964 (Sandra B. Rosenthal).

15. Suzanne K. Langer, 1895–1985 (Richard E. Hart).

16. Willard Van Orman Quine, 1908–2000 (Peter T. Manicas).

17. Alain L. Locke, 1885–1954 (Leonard Harris).

18. Justus Buchler, 1914–1991 (Kathleen Wallace).

PART III. MAJOR THEMES IN AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY.

19. Community and Democracy (James Campbell).

20. Knowledge and Action: American Epistemology (Scott L. Pratt(.

21. Religion (William D. Dean).

22. Education (Nicholas C. Burbules, Bryan Warnick, Timothy McDonough, and Scott Johnston).

23. Art and the Aesthetic (Armen T. Marsoobian).

Epilogue: Editor s Note.

Epilogue: The Renascence of Classical American Philosophy (John J. McDermott).

Index.

Armen T. Marsoobian is Professor of Philosophy at Southern Connecticut State University. He is co–editor of Justus Buchler s Metaphysics of Natural Complexes (with Kathleen Wallace, 1990) and of Nature s Perspectives: Prospects for Ordinal Metaphysics (with Kathleen Wallace and Robert S. Carrington, 1991). He is editor–in–chief of the Blackwell journal Metaphilosophy.

John Ryder is Professor of Philosophy, Director of the Office of International Programs, and Director of the Center on Russia and the United States at The State University of New York. He is author of Interpreting America: Russian and Soviet Studies of the History of American Thought (1999), editor of American Philosophic Naturalism in the Twentieth Century (1994), and co–editor of The Philosophical Writings of Cadwallader Colden (with Scott L. Pratt, 2002).

"Marsoobian and Ryder have crafted the much–needed survey of key figures and issues from the major philosophies that originated in America. This Guide delivers an admirable set of clear and concise essays, composed by prominent scholars of American philosophy. Teachers and students will be indebted to The Blackwell Guide to American Philosophy for many years to come." John R. Shook, Oklahoma State University <!––end––>

"This volume by many hands fills an important gap about American philosophy, as distinguished from philosophy in America. It is a sophisticated, invaluable guide to American philosophy, richly covering all the main traditions, major figures, and important themes in clear, comprehensive, and very useful fashion." Tom Rockmore, Duquesne University

"This is an excellent reference resource on the classical period of American philosophy. It reiterates and reaffirms the idea that history is really a topic of the present, and the essays present stimulating insight on an exciting period of American intellectual life that continues to inform contemporary philosophical issues." Gerald T. Burke, Reference Reviews