Pragmatism

The author traces the emergence and varieties of pragmatic philosophy, linking developments in psychology and a renewed emphasis on will with a critique of intellectualism and formal logic. He examines how social life exposes naive dogmatism, explores methods for distinguishing truth from error among competing opinions, and argues that truth must be appraised by practical consequences rather than abstract absolutes. Throughout, the work diagnoses the limits of purely formal reasoning, defends a reformist conception of logic grounded in meaning and experience, and connects theoretical claims to their effects on conduct and inquiry.