William James on Democratic Individuality
William James on Democratic Individuality
Looking for an examination copy?
This title is not currently available for examination. However, if you are interested in the title for your course we can consider offering an examination copy. To register your interest please contact collegesales@cambridge.org providing details of the course you are teaching.
William James (1842–1910) argued for a philosophy of democracy and pluralism that advocates individual and collective responsibility for our social arrangements, our morality, and our religion. In James' view, democracy resides first and foremost not in governmental institutions or in procedures such as voting, but rather in the characteristics of individuals, and in qualities of mind and conduct. It is a philosophy for social change, counselling action and hope despite the manifold challenges facing democratic politics, and these issues still resonate strongly today. In this book, Stephen S. Bush explores how these themes connect to James' philosophy of religion, his moral thought, his epistemology, his psychology, and his metaphysics. His fresh and original study highlights the relevance of James' thought to modern debates, and will appeal to scholars and students of moral and political philosophy.
- Provides a fresh interpretation of the theory of democratic individualism and of the philosophy of William James, a key American thinker
- Investigates the connections between James' political philosophy, philosophy of religion, psychology, and moral philosophy
- Demonstrates the continued relevance of James' thought for modern debates, making this book important for readers interested in moral and political philosophy
Product details
November 2017Adobe eBook Reader
9781108515320
0 pages
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Abbreviations of James' works
- Introduction
- 1. The political James
- 2. Collective responsibility and truth
- 3. Collective responsibility for morality
- 4. Moral objectivity
- 5. Individuals and responsibility
- 6. Sensitivity to strangers
- 7. Individuality and social change
- 8. Heroes and citizens
- 9. Religion and motivation
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index.
