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Philosophy

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The American Evasion of Philosophy A Genealogy of Pragmatism Cornel West Wisconsin Project on American Writers Frank Lentricchia, General Editor Winner of the 1992 Critic's Choice Award Taking Emerson as his starting point, Cornel West's basic task in this ambitious enterprise is to chart the emergence, development, decline, and recent resurgence of American pragmatism. John Dewey is the central figure in West's pantheon of pragmatists, but he treats as well such varied mid-century representatives of the tradition as Sidney Hook, C. Wright Mills, W. E. B. Du Bois, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Lionel Trilling. West's "genealogy" is, ultimately, a very personal work, for it is imbued throughout with the author's conviction that a thorough reexamination of American pragmatism may help inspire and instruct contemporary efforts to remake and reform American society and culture. "West . . . may well be the pre-eminent African American intellectual of our generation."—The Nation "The American Evasion of Philosophy is a highly intelligent and provocative book. Cornel West gives us illuminating readings of the political thought of Emerson and James; provides a penetrating critical assessment of Dewey, his central figure; and offers a brilliant interpretation—appreciative yet far from uncritical—of the contemporary philosopher and neo-pragmatist Richard Porty. . . . What shines through, throughout the work, is West's firm commitment to a radical vision of a philosophic discourse as inextricably linked to cultural criticism and politcal engagement."—Paul S. Boyer, professor emeritus of history, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Cornel West is the Class of 1943 University Professor of Religion at Princeton University, and author of the influential Race Matters. His recent work includes two books he coauthored on public policy issues: The Future of American Progressivism and The War Against Parents. For more information regarding publicity and reviews contact our publicity manager, Chris Caldwell, phone: (608) 263-0734, email: publicity@uwpress.wisc.edu

May 1989  LC: 88-040446 B 292 pp. 6 x 9 ISBN-13: 978-0-299-11964-5 Paper $21.95 s Add titles to your shopping cart by clicking on the "Add this book to cart" link above. You can submit your order electronically, paying for it with your credit card. Click here for a further explanation of the shopping cart feature Never ordered from us before? Read this first.

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