William James and the Moral Life: Responsible Self-fashioning (Routledge Studies in American Philosophy)

"This book offers a compelling new interpretation of James' moral philosophy: an "ethics of responsible self-fashioning." James' performative writing style articulates this conception by showing how moral inquiry serves both social and personal transformation. James the social moral philosopher seeks to create an inclusive moral order through expansion of sympathetic concern among those committed to different ideals. James the existential moral philosopher defends the right to adopt hope-grounding metaphysical beliefs which encourage strenuous moral action in the face of evil and suffering. The power of James' ethics is demonstrated by its application to current discussions about the status of marginalized nonhuman animals and that of the cognitively disabled. William James and the Moral Life is of interest to a wide variety of ethicists and has special appeal to scholars and advanced students in moral philosophy, social philosophy, pragmatism, and American philosophy"-- Provided by publisher This book offers a compelling new interpretation of James’ moral philosophy: an “ethics of responsible self-fashioning.” James’ performative writing style articulates this conception by showing how moral inquiry serves both social and personal transformation. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Series Page 3 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Table of Contents 8 Acknowledgments 9 Introduction: Why William James and Ethics? 12 1. Pragmatist Moral Philosophy and Moral Life: Embracing the Tensions 20 2. Ideals and Significant Lives 47 3. The Sources of Moral Agency 68 4. Existential Deliberation 89 5. Moving Marginal Subjects Into Focus 126 Conclusion 145 References 151 Index 156 Introduction;,1,Pragmatist,Moral,Philosophy,and,Moral,Life;,2,Ideals,and,Significant,Lives;,3,The,Sources,of,Moral,Agency;,4,Existential,Deliberation;,5,Moving,Marginal,Subjects,Into,Focus;,Conclusion Introduction,1 Pragmatist Moral Philosophy and Moral Life,2 Ideals and Significant Lives,3 The Sources of Moral Agency,4 Existential Deliberation,5 Moving Marginal Subjects Into Focus,Conclusion

This book offers a compelling new interpretation of James’ moral philosophy: an "ethics of responsible self-fashioning." James’ performative writing style articulates this conception by showing how moral inquiry serves both social and personal transformation.