The Philosophies of Royce, James, and Dewey in Their American Setting

Abstract

Introduction With this issue, Culture & Psychologyadds a new thematic rubric to its previously established ones (‘From Theory to Practice’ and ‘Investigation into Ideas’). The goal of this new rubric is to bring to the attention of our contemporary readership some selected papers that have been published in the past, and largely forgotten. Yet these papers may contain ideas that are relevant for the state of affairs of the given area of inquiry in its present state, and may help in the advancement of future ideas. Each of these ‘old’ articles will be furnished with commentaries that build the bridge between the old and the new perspectives— critically examining what of the older contribution is useful for the present and the future. The first example of this new feature includes a paper by George Herbert Mead (1863–1931), published for the first time in the International Journal of Ethicsin 1930. The paper—’The Philosophies of Royce, James, and Dewey in Their American Setting’—includes a number of insights into US society in its historical divergence from from British society. The first contemporary commentary, that by noted historian Peter Stearns, provides a critical analysis of Mead’s ideas.