The Drama of Possibility: Experience as Philosophy of Culture
John J. McDermott and Douglas R. Anderson
Abstract
This book traces the trajectory of John J. McDermott's philosophical career through a selection of his essays. Many were originally occasional pieces and address specific issues in American thought and culture. Together they constitute a mosaic of McDermott's philosophy, showing its roots in an American conception of experience. Though he draws heavily on the thought of William James and the pragmatists, McDermott has his own unique perspective on philosophy and American life. Drawing inspiration from American history, from existentialist themes, ... More
This book traces the trajectory of John J. McDermott's philosophical career through a selection of his essays. Many were originally occasional pieces and address specific issues in American thought and culture. Together they constitute a mosaic of McDermott's philosophy, showing its roots in an American conception of experience. Though he draws heavily on the thought of William James and the pragmatists, McDermott has his own unique perspective on philosophy and American life. Drawing inspiration from American history, from existentialist themes, and from personal experiences, he offers a dramatic consideration of our culture's failures and successes. McDermott crosses disciplinary boundaries, drawing on whatever helps to make sense of the issues with which he is dealing—issues rooted in medical practice, political events, pedagogical habits, and the world of the arts.
Keywords:
John J. McDermott,
philosophy,
American life,
William James,
pragmatism,
American thought,
American culture,
existentialism
Bibliographic Information
Print publication date: 2007 |
Print ISBN-13: 9780823226627 |
Published to Fordham Scholarship Online: March 2011 |
DOI:10.5422/fso/9780823226627.001.0001 |
Authors
Affiliations are at time of print publication.
John J. McDermott, author
Douglas R. Anderson, editor
Department of Philosophy, Southern Illinois University,
Carbondale
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