Modern Philosophy - 20th Century, Modern Philosophy - 19th Century, Education - United States - History, 20th Century American Philosophy

Dewey's Critical Pragmatism

Name: Dewey's Critical Pragmatism
Author: Alison Kadlec
ISBN: 9780739115497

by Alison Kadlec

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Overview

Dewey's Critical Pragmatism explores the critical potential of John Dewey's democratic vision. By reconstructing critical dimensions of Dewey's approach to epistemology, philosophy, pedagogy, and politics, Alison Kadlec develops a model of pragmatism that speaks to both radical and deliberative democratic theory. Critical pragmatism proceeds from the claim that the point of reflective inquiry is not to establish or justify principles of transcendental universality, but rather to improve our individual and shared capacity to tap into the critical potential of lived experience in a world characterized by change and flux. Dewey's Critical Pragmatism is geared toward recovering aspects of Dewey's work that have been persistently misunderstood or simply neglected. Kadlec posits that it is in the realm of contemporary deliberative democratic theory and practice that the greatest significance of critical pragmatism lies.

Synopsis

Dewey's Critical Pragmatism centers on the idea that Dewey is a more radical thinker than he has previously be credited as. His critical pragmatism has a great deal to offer contemporary deliberative democracy theory and practice.

About the Author, Alison Kadlec

Alison Kadlec is senior research associate and associate director at the Center for Advances in Public Engagement.

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Editorials

Political Studies Review

This book by Alison Kadlec is a welcome addition to the scholarship on American philosopher John Dewey and pragmatism. . . . A worthwhile book.

Noelle McAfee

Alison Kadlec draws out the critical power of Dewey's pragmatism, a pragmatism that questions at every turn vested interests, the status quo, entrenched bureaucracies, social inequality, and all other forces that lent weight to Lippmann's complaint that the public was little more than a phantom. Kadlec takes to task those critics who thought that Dewey had nothing concrete to say about power and politics. Beautifully written, this book shows how Dewey's focus on developing social intelligence and attending to live experience paved the way for a conception of democratic politics that we could use now more than ever.

William Caspary

Kadlec has done a great service by bridging gaps between critical theory, pragmatism, and deliberative democracy, bringing these traditions into fruitful conversation. Linking practice together with theory, quality scholarship with political experience, she offers new design principles for deliberative forums. Everyone seeking to understand democratic ideas and practices should read this book. It is a major achievement.

Harry Boyte

Alison Kadlec's splendid work,Dewey's Critical Pragmatism, makes a major contribution to understanding John Dewey as an extremely important democratic theorist and political activist who has much to contribute to critical studies, deliberative democracy, and the larger work of building vital democratic societies for the 21st century. In the process of her pioneering reconceptualization of Dewey's philosophy and practice, she also establishes herself at the front ranks of both Dewey scholars and deliberative democrats.