Pragmatism

Pragmatism by D.L. Murray is a comprehensive introduction to the philosophical movement of pragmatism. The book covers the history and development of pragmatism, its major proponents and their key ideas, and its relevance to contemporary issues in philosophy and society. Murray explores the central themes of pragmatism, including its emphasis on practicality, experimentation, and experience, and its rejection of absolute truth and fixed principles. He also examines the relationship between pragmatism and other philosophical movements, such as positivism and existentialism. The book is written in a clear and accessible style, making it an ideal introduction for students and general readers interested in philosophy and the history of ideas.To begin with, we must radically disabuse our minds of the idea that thinking starts from certainty. Even the self-evident and self-confident 'intuitions' that impress the uncritical so much with their claim to infallibility are really the results of antecedent doubts and ponderings, and would never be enunciated unless there were thought to be a dispute about them. In real life thought starts from perplexities, from situations in which, as Professor Dewey says, beliefs have to be 'reconstructed, ' and it aims at setting doubts at rest. It is psychologically impossible for a rational mind to assert what it knows to be true, and supposes everyone else to admit the truth of.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work