The Divided Self of William James [Paperback]

A study of the multiple directions of James's philosophy.This book offers a powerful new interpretation of the philosophy of William James. It focuses on the multiple directions in which James's philosophy moves and the inevitable contradictions that arise as a result. Richard Gale shows how relativistic tendencies can be reconciled with James's account of mystical experience. Such is the range of James's philosophy that this stimulating new interpretation will find readers amongst those interested in the history of modern philosophy and especially in pragmatism, as well as in the history of ideas, religion, and American studies.This book offers a powerful new interpretation of the philosophy of William James. It focuses on the multiple directions in which James's philosophy moves and the inevitable contradictions that arise as a result. Richard Gale shows how relativistic tendencies can be reconciled with James's account of mystical experience. Such is the range of James's philosophy that this stimulating new interpretation will find readers amongst those interested in the history of modern philosophy and especially in pragmatism, as well as in the history of ideas, religion, and American studies.This book offers a powerful new interpretation of the philosophy of William James. It focuses on the multiple directions in which James' philosophy moves and the inevitable contradictions that arise as a result. Richard Gale shows how relativistic tendencies can be reconciled with James' account of mystical experience. Such is the range of James' philosophy that this stimulating new interpretation will find readers among those interested in the history of modern philosophy and especially in pragmatism, as well as in the history of ideas, religion, and American studies.Acknowledgements; Introduction; Part I. The Promethean Pragmatist: 1. The ethics of Prometheanism; 2. The willfulness of belief; 3. The freedom of belief; 4. The will to believe; 5. The ethics of truth; 6. Thlƒ¼