Essays in Pragmatism

William James (1842-1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist who had trained as a physician. He was the first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States. The seven papers brought together in this volume provide an introduction to the philosophy of William James. The first and sixth are on philosophy: in them James deals with questions of method, asks what philosophy is and how it should go about its job. The remaining five are in philosophy: in them James deals with free will, morals, science and religion, his own views in religion, and the nature of truth. It would be difficult to suggest more persistent problems in philosophy. These papers introduce a reader to William James. They do more than that. Few authors are better able to communicate the spirit of humane philosophizing. These papers therefore provide a valuable introduction to American philosophy and, indeed, to philosophy itself.