A Pluralistic Universe

by William James, Fredson Bowers, Richard J. Bernstein

Overview

In May 1908 William James, a gifted and popular lecturer, delivered a series of eight Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College, Oxford, on “The Present Situation in Philosophy.” These were published a year later as A Pluralistic Universe.

During the preceding decade James, as he struggled with deep conflicts within his own philosophic development, had become increasingly preoccupied with epistemological and metaphysical issues. He saw serious inadequacies in the forms of absolute and monistic idealism dominant in England and the United States, and he used the lectures to attack the specific form that “vicious intellectualism” had taken. In A Pluralistic Universe James captures a new philosophic vision, at once intimate and realistic. He shares with his readers a view of the universe that is fresh, active, and novel. The message conveyed is as relevant today as it was in his time.

This is the fourth volume of The Works of William James in an authoritative edition sponsored by the American Council of Learned Societies. Prepared according to modern standards of textual scholarship, this series utilizes all available published and unpublished materials; its texts have been awarded the seal of approval of the Center for Editions of American Authors. Frederick Burkhardt is General Editor; Fredson Bowers, Textual Editor; Ignas K. Skrupskelis, Associate Editor.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674673915
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/01/1977
Series:	The Works of William James , #1
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	522
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Fredson Bowers is Linden Kent Professor of English, Emeritus, at the University of Virginia.

Ignas K. Skrupskelis is Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Carolina.

Frederick Burkhardt, formerly a professor of philosophy and then a college president, is President Emeritus of the American Council of Learned Societies.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Introduction by Richard J. Bernstein

A Pluralistic Universe

Appendix C

Index

Notes

A Note on the Editorial Method

The Text of A Pluralistic Universe

1. The History

2. The Documents

3. The Editorial Problem

Apparatus

Emendations

Textual Notes

Historical Collation

Alterations in the Manuscripts

Word-Division

Appendix: James's Reply to W.P. Montague

General Index

Key to the Pagination of editions