William James, Essays in Radical Empiricism: A Critical Edition (American Philosophy Series)

H.G. Callaway’s critical edition of William James's Essays in Radical Empiricism evaluates this classic work of American philosophy and the pragmatist tradition partly on the basis of the functional psychology of James's magnum opus, The Principles of Psychology. The edition also brings in later, Darwinian-functionalist, American psychology—which James did much to inspire—and contemporary developments in functional, cognitive psychology and neuroscience. James’s own text has been annotated throughout to render his references and theoretical concerns explicit and to briefly indicate points of criticism. The edition features an expanded bibliography that includes both historical and contemporary sources, as well as a new, comprehensive index. The chief arguments of the edition center on criticism of James's claims for "radical empiricism," his doctrine of "pure experience," and the doubtful role as evidence James attributed to stand-alone introspection and Jamesian “retrospection.” Enlisting results from the logic of relations, contemporary empiricism, historical and contemporary developments in cognitive psychology, and experimental neuroscience, Callaway argues for the importance of James on functional relations—to be interpreted in the manner of the scientific naturalism prominent in The Principles of Psychology. Too often, James’s late philosophical views have overshadowed the accomplishments of his earlier work in psychology. Overall, this new edition indicates the scientific virtues of functionalism in cognitive psychology and shows the relevance of James’s functional psychology to contemporary cognitive theory. This book is a critical edition of William James’s Essays in Radical Empiricism. The text has been annotated to explain and expand on James’s references and to briefly develop points of criticism. The editor has added a new, critical Introduction, an extended bibliography and a new, comprehensive index. William James is perhaps America’s favorite philosopher and his writings remain popular around the world. Yet he studied to be an M.D., taught anatomy and physiology at Harvard, and he came to international prominence with his magnum opus, The Principles of Psychology (1890). James represented America just as the U.S. arrived on the world stage. This critical edition examines James’s later philosophical work from the perspective of the scientific naturalism often prominent in the Principles. It also takes up developments in historical and contemporary sources of functional psychology—which James often inspired—up to and including reflections of the contemporary French neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene. The aim is to place the evaluation of James on pragmatism and radical empiricism within the scientific perspective of contemporary work in the philosophy of psychology and the philosophy of mind. James on “radical empiricism” and “pure experience” and “pragmatism” are particular topics of critical attention. Contents Preface Introduction Chapter One Does ‘Consciousness’ Exist? Chapter Two A World of Pure Experience Chapter Three The Thing and Its Relations Chapter Four How Two Minds Can Know One Thing Chapter Five The Place of Affectional Facts in a World of Pure Experience Chapter Six The Experience of Activity Chapter Seven The Essence of Humanism Chapter Eight La Notion de Conscience Chapter Nine Is Radical Empiricism Solipsistic? Chapter Ten Mr. Pitkin’s Refutation of ‘Radical Empiricism’ Chapter Eleven Humanism and Truth Once More Chapter Twelve Absolutism and Empiricism Notes Bibliography Index About the Editor Introduction: William James, functional psychology, and radical empiricism -- Does 'consciousness' exist? -- A world of pure experience -- The thing and its relations -- How two minds can know one thing -- The place of affectional facts in a world of pure experience -- The experience of activity -- The essence of humanism -- La notion de conscience -- Is radical empiricism solipsistic? -- Mr. Pitkin's refutation of 'radical empiricism' -- Humanism and truth once more -- Absolutism and empiricism "This new critical edition is an examination of William James's Essays in Radical Empiricism in light of the scientific naturalism prominent in James's Principles of Psychology (1890) and the subsequent development of Darwinian, functional psychology and functionalism in psychology, the philosophy psychology and the philosophy of mind"-- Provided by publisher