Abstract
As this chapter shows, the intertwining of psychology and philosophy in [William James'] work-in his philosophy as much as his psychology-enriched both endeavors. Rooted in anatomy, physiology, and neurology as much as or more than in the empirical psychology and rational philosophy of old, James's foundational premises, doctrines, and methods-and the versions of psychology, pragmatism, pluralism, and radical empiricism that he based upon them-have provided many provocative and valuable insights into the hum an mind, self, person, world, knowledge, mora ls, and future possibilities. Rather than spoiling two good things, the integrated nature of James's work seems to have strengthened both, injecting the kind of vitality and novelty that come from grafting healthy sprigs onto related but different stock. Despite subsequent decades of epithet hurling, charges of psychologism and what I have called philosophism have diminished over time and have, in any case, failed to kill the vibrant offspring of James's work. Today, in fact, more than at any point since the institutional divorce of psychology and philosophy, there are psychologists looking to philosophy, and philosophers looking to psychology, for theoretical and practical ideas-i n short, for premises, doctrines, and methods that might be useful in formulating better answers to current questions as well as better hypotheses regarding emerging problems, especially those of an interdisciplinary sort. (15) Where ver such developments lead, this state of affairs seems a good thing ... and something James him self would have approved , based on lessons learned in his own life and work.
Document Type
Restricted Book Chapter: Campus only access
Publication Date
2024
Publisher Statement
© Oxford University Press 2024