Pragmatism

⚖The case for it

The theory of truth is the weakest thing in the book, and James knows enough to hedge without knowing enough to fix it. Read Pragmatism for the method. The campers arguing about whether a man goes round a squirrel look ridiculous until James asks what would actually be different depending on who wins, and the quarrel evaporates. That move, pulling a big word back down to what hangs on it, keeps working on questions James never touched. He is thinking on his feet in these lectures, the pages wobble because of it, and what you carry away is a tool, not a finished doctrine.

— the honest librarian

✕The case against

Truth as what works invited every objection it still receives: works for whom, for how long, at what cost to honesty? James never quite answers; he charms instead. The tender-minded versus tough-minded opener is a cartoon of his opponents, and the lecture format means breezy assertion where arguments should be. Wonderful company, loose philosophy.

— the honest librarian