HISTORY OF AMERICAN PHILOSOPHY: 20TH CENTURY

Catalog description

This course is designed to introduce students to the thinkers and movements in 20th century American thought, particularly pragmatism, idealism, naturalism, new realism, and critical realism. One chief concern is the issue of what constitutes American philosophy. Is there such a thing as "American philosophy"? This course is intended to address this issue. To set the stage for a look at 20th century philosophical thought, students will briefly look at American thought prior to the 20th century: Puritan thought, the American Enlightenment, and Transcendentalism (Emerson and Whitman). Students will then examine the classical American pragmatists (Royce, Peirce, James, and Dewey), as well as contemporary pragmatists (Rorty, Fraser, Putnam, and Hacking). The course will end with a look at naturalism, new and critical realism, and contemporary moral, social, and political philosophy.