John Dewey And Self-Realization

There are many possible avenues of approach to a thinker as original in his ideas, as varied in his interests, and as prolific in his writings as John Dewey. Personal preference will no doubt determine the approach to his thought which one will take. Students of education have long acknowledged the emphasis which Dewey placed on growth in human experience and on the educational theories and practices serving to advance such growth. What has not been as clearly recognized, however, is his wider interest in the development of human personality in other fields; namely, philosophy, psychology, art, science, politics, and social theory. This book proposes to show that, underlying the varied human problems which were the stimuli to Dewey’s thought, there was a dominant interest in human self—realization to be achieved through interaction with nature. Implicit in all his writings was the intellectual effort to work out the conditions according to which man's personality may attain its highest fulfillment. And though his influence has been felt mainly in the field of education, it would seem that future estimation of his work will depend largely on whether he has said anything significant for personal development in the fields of human endeavor which engaged his interest. I am convinced that John Dewey has something important to say to Modern America and that what he says has significance for people of other countries as well.