American Philosophy : John Dewey's Philosophy of Spirit, with the 1897 Lecture on Hegel

This book furthers the research begun in John Shook's "Dewey's Empirical Theory of Knowledge and Reality" (2000) and James Good's "A Search for Unity in Diversity: The 'Permanent Hegelian Deposit' in the Philosophy of John Dewey" (2006). Both authors have countered the traditional narrative of Dewey's intellectual development by arguing that he never made a clean break from Hegel. This volume explores Dewey's philosophy of religion in general and his inheritance of a 'philosophy of spirit' from Hegel in particular. Shook and Good agree that Dewey did have a philosophy of spirit, that it was heavily indebted to Hegelian themes, and that Dewey's mature philosophy of religion is a key component of his social and political theory. In addition to Dewey's 1897 lecture on Hegel's Philosophy of Spirit, the book contains an essay by Shook that examines the role of religion throughout Dewey's oeuvre, and an essay by Good that closely analyzes Dewey's lecture. The primary thrust of the volume is to demonstrate that Dewey's understanding of the functions of religion, religious experience, and democratic politics are profoundly indebted to Hegel. Of special significance for Dewey's maturing thought is his historicist and progressive view of Hegel's treatment of freedom, religion, morality, and politics. For Dewey, Hegel's philosophy of spirit leads directly towards the democratic fellowship of common humanity, which becomes the cornerstone of Dewey's own politics Many contemporary constructivists are particularly attuned to Dewey's penetrating criticism of traditional epistemology, which offers rich alternatives for understanding processes of learning and education, knowledge and truth, and experience and culture. This book, the result of cooperation between the Center for Dewey Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the Dewey Center at the University of Cologne, provides an excellent example of the international character of pragmatist studies against the backdrop of constructivist concerns. As a part of their exploration of the many points of contact between classical pragmatism and contemporary constructivism, its contributors turn their attention to theories of interaction and transaction, communication and culture, learning and education, community and democracy, theory and practice, and inquiry and methods.Part One is a basic survey of Dewey's pragmatism and its implications for contemporary constructivism. Part Two examines the implications of the connections between Deweyan pragmatism and contemporary constructivism. Part Three presents a lively exchange among the contributors, as they challenge one another and defend their positions and perspectives. As they seek common ground, they articulate concepts such as power, truth, relativism, inquiry, and democracy from pragmatist and interactive constructivist vantage points in ways that are designed to render the preceding essays even more accessible. This concluding discussion demonstrates both the enduring relevance of classical pragmatism and the challenge of its reconstruction from the perspective of the Cologne program of interactive constructivism. The question of how far Deweys thought is indebted to Hegel has long been a conundrum for philosophers. This book shows that, far from repudiating Hegel, Deweys entire pragmatic philosophy is premised on a philosophy of spirit inspired by Hegels project. Two essays by Shook and Good defending this radical viewpoint are joined by the definitive text of Deweys 1897 Lecture at the University of Chicago on Hegels Philosophy of Spirit. Previously cited by scholars only from the archival manuscript, this edited Lecture is now available to fully expose the basic concern shared by Hegel and Dewey for the full and free development of the individual in the social context. Deweys and Hegels philosophies are at the center of modern philosophys hopes for advancing human freedom. Dewey's Naturalized Philosophy Of Spirit And Religion / John R. Shook -- Rereading Dewey's Permanent Hegelian Deposit / James A. Good -- Hegel's Philosophy Of Spirit : 1897, University Of Chicago / John Dewey. John R. Shook And James A. Good. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.