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Persons and experience: John Dewey's philosophy of the self
Abstract
My intention in this dissertation is to argue for the novelty and relevancy of John Dewey's philosophical naturalism. My answer to the question, "Why Dewey?" takes the form of the following four-fold thesis: first, Dewey's radical empiricism is a genuine naturalistic position which is distinctively American. It departs significantly from the traditional empiricist project by rejecting any form of dualism. Hence, it remains consistent with the original intentions of the empiricist project. The relevancy of Dewey's radical empiricism is supported by Hilary Putnam's recent attempt to argue for an "internal realist" position. Second, Dewey's radical empiricism leads to a shift in our understanding of persons--from primarily isolated private egos to a more relational and processual naturalistic forces. I construct, then, from Dewey's writings a "missing chapter" in his overall philosophical reconstruction. This involves the articulation of a theory of self-activity consistent with his mature naturalistic philosophical program. Third, such an understanding of the person involves the language and framework of habits within which human conduct and character can be understood and leverage over their formation can be personally achieved. This instrumental element in Dewey's thought comprises a hidden agenda in this dissertation. Dewey's outlook best captures the role of philosophy in a post-Holocaust world. Dewey's participatory and practical philosophy provides a better framework for showing how environmental conditions are transformable. If the transformation of such conditions in controlled responsibly, future Holocausts can be prevented. Fourth, Dewey's radical empiricist paradigm is a bona fide alternative to contemporary analytical discussion about human relations in general, and ethics in particular. Dewey's treatment of the person and of morality is profoundly situated, whereas the contemporary analytical view is merely spectatorial. The bearing which Dewey's empiricism has upon the post-Holocaust experience, as well as on contemporary medical, political, ethical, aesthetical, pedagogical, psychological and philosophical discussions, attests to the legitimacy of Dewey's empirical paradigm.
Subject Area
Philosophy
Recommended Citation
Lubling, Yoram, "Persons and experience: John Dewey's philosophy of the self" (1992). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9315566.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9315566