The Philosophies of America Reader: From the Popol Vuh to the Present

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The Philosophies of America Reader brings together an unparalleled selection of original and translated readings spanning several eras and American traditions. Addressing perennial questions of philosophy and new questions arising in a variety of cultural contexts, texts from Classical American, Native American, Latin American, African American, Asian American, Mexican, Caribbean, and South American philosophers reveal the interweaving tapestry of ideas characteristic of America. With its distinctively pluralistic approach, this reader promotes intercultural dialogue and understanding, highlighting points of convergence and divergence across American philosophical traditions. It features: Writings by traditionally underrepresented groups Primary texts thematically arranged around major areas of philosophical enquiry including selfhood, knowledge, learning, and ethics Introductory essays outlining the trajectories of each section Suggestions for further primary and secondary readings, guiding readers in further study As the only available reader in American philosophy of such wide ranging content, this is an essential resource for those interested in intellectual history, thought and culture, and philosophical theories of America.

Reviews

The Philosophies of America Reader is relevant to a much larger audience than pragmatists looking to be more inclusive. For pluralist philosophers and pluralist programs, this is a very exciting text. It takes multiple marginalized traditions and seeks to put them in conversation without tokenizing them ... This text has the potential to contribute to efforts to understand racism both past and present. * Transactions of The Charles S. Peirce Society *
I can see no reason why this text could not become the new standard for our classes on American Philosophy. Additionally, I am not currently aware of any work on the market which serves the same unique role of The Philosophies of America Reader. I would strongly encourage any interested instructor to consider this text for their courses. * Teaching Philosophy *
With selections by marginalized thinkers, this Reader rejects the myth that American philosophy is fundamentally male, white, and limited to the United States. It offers a window to the contexts, cultures, and conflicts that shaped Native America, African American, Latin American, and Asian American philosophies, and provides fresh insight into perennial problems in ethics, metaphysics, and epistemology by expanding the philosophical canon. Required reading. * Derrick Darby, Henry Rutgers Professor of Philosophy, Rutgers University, USA *
This exciting collection does some very important philosophical work: it opens the epistemological lens by which we can see better the diversity of experience that underlies life in the Americas. Diaz and Foust provide us the tools to construct a much more honest philosophical canon, one with a hemispheric awareness of the importance of multicultural and multiracial perspectives. By showing us the wide range of North and Latin American voices, we are able to put these resources in dialogue with one another and find new ways of thinking for a more humane future. * Jos-Antonio Orosco, Professor of Philosophy, Oregon State University, USA *
The year is 2021 and what you have here is perhaps the first and only anthology of "American" philosophy. * Robert Eli Sanchez, Jr., Associate Professor of Philosophy, Occidental College, USA *

Author Bio

Kim Daz is a Philosophy Instructor at El Paso Community College, USA and a Philosophy & Mindfulness Instructor with the Philosophic Systems Institute. Mathew A. Foust is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Central Connecticut State University, USA.