The American Evasion of Philosophy: A Genealogy of Pragmatism (Language, Discourse, Society)

A study of American pragmatism, this book looks at all the different stages from the Emersonian roots, through the dilemma of the mid-century pragmatic intellectual up to the decline and resurgence of American pragmatism. It also discusses prophetic pragmatism. "Taking Emerson as his starting point, Cornel West's basic task in this ambitious enterprise is to chart the emergence, development, decline, and recent resurgence of American pragmatism. John Dewey is the central figure in West's pantheon of pragmatists, but he treats as well such varied mid-century representatives of the tradition as Sidney Hook, C. Wright Mills, W.E.B. Du Bois, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Lionel Trilling. West's "genealogy" is, ultimately, a very personal work, for it is imbued throughout with the author's conviction that a thorough reexamination of American pragmatism may help inspire and instruct contemporary efforts to remake and reform American society and culture."--Publisher description. Front Matter....Pages i-1 Introduction....Pages 3-8 The Emersonian Prehistory of American Pragmatism....Pages 9-41 The Historic Emergence of American Pragmatism....Pages 42-68 The Coming-of-Age of American Pragmatism: John Dewey....Pages 69-111 The Dilemma of the Mid-Century Pragmatic Intellectual....Pages 112-181 The Decline and Resurgence of American Pragmatism: W. V. Quine and Richard Rorty....Pages 182-210 Prophetic Pragmatism: Cultural Criticism and Political Engagement....Pages 211-239 Back Matter....Pages 241-279