William James

American Pragmatism Americans were

interested in the practical value of philosophy and ideas. “What works?” is as important as “Why does something exist?”

The Importance of Questions James grew up in a

home where questions were more important than answers. This would create a very stimulating environment for a young mind.

The Metaphysical Club James joined in

philosophical discussions in a club at Harvard that provided a foundation for American intellectual thought for decades.

The Will to Believe “Having rejected

suicide in favor of the possibility of a creative life unsupported by certitude, James developed a doctrine to sustain such a belief.”

The Realm of Possibility “James assumes the

presence of meaning but remains pessimistic about the attainment of clarity, and above all, certitude.”

Freedom “To be free, James

decides, is just to act as if one were free.” Belief in freedom is a condition of its existence.

Truth “We help create the

truth of the world which we come to know, and we cannot help that.”

Summary: Trust “For James, it is

precisely the ability of humans to enter into the relational fabric of the world, in a participative and liberating way, which enables him or her to become human.”