John Dewey's philosophy of spirit : with the 1897 lecture on Hegel

The question of how far Dewey’s thought is indebted to Hegel has long been a conundrum for philosophers. This book shows that, far from repudiating Hegel, Dewey’s entire pragmatic philosophy is premised on a “philosophy of spirit” inspired by Hegel’s project. Two essays by Shook and Good defending this radical viewpoint are joined by the definitive text of Dewey’s 1897 Lecture at the University of Chicago on Hegel’s 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. Dewey’s and Hegel’s philosophies are at the center of modern philosophy’s hopes for advancing human freedom. 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. Frontmatter Preface (page vii) Editorial Procedures for Class Lecture Notes (Center for Dewey Studies, page xi) PART I. DEWEY'S PHILOSOPHY OF SPIRIT Dewey's Naturalized Philosophy of Spirit and Religion (John R. Shook, page 3) Rereading Dewey's "Permanent Hegelian Deposit" (James A. Good, page 56) PART II. DEWEY'S 1897 LECTURE ON HEGEL Hegel's Philosophy of Spirit: 1897, University of Chicago (John Dewey, page 93) Notes (page 177) Index (page 193) 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.