How pragmatism meets its critics, from questions about truth to the social character of experience.
This work surveys key debates around absolutism, subjectivism, and the role of the social process in forming knowledge. It explains how pragmatism rethinks ideas like need, expectation, and the testing of beliefs in a changing world.
Readers will see how different philosophers argue about the nature of the absolute, the direction of progress, and the relation between thought and reality. The book also examines how critics challenge pragmatism and how its defenders respond, with an emphasis on practical consequences and the ongoing work of inquiry.
- Clear explanations of major positions in the pragmatist debate.
- Plain discussions of accusations like subjectivism and how they are analyzed.
- Insights into how experience, habit, and social context shape knowledge.
- Connections between theory, criticism, and practical goals in philosophy.
Ideal for readers of philosophy, logic, and the history of American pragmatism seeking a balanced, accessible overview.