Dewey and the Ancients: Essays on Hellenic and Hellenistic Themes in the Philosophy of John Dewey

(Hardback)

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Dewey's students at Columbia saw him as "an Aristotelian more Aristotelian than Aristotle himself." However, until now, there has been little consideration of the influence Greek thought had on the intellectual development of this key American philosopher. By examining, in detail, Dewey's treatment and appropriation of Greek thought, the authors in this volume reveal an otherwise largely overlooked facet of his intellectual development and finalized ideas. Rather than offering just one unified account of Dewey's connection to Greek thought, this volume offers multiple perspectives on Dewey's view of the aims and purpose of philosophy. Ultimately, each author reveals ways in which Dewey's thought was in line with ancient themes. When combined, they offer a tapestry of comparative approaches with special attention paid to key contributions in political, social, and pedagogical philosophy.

Reviews

All in all, this volume constitutes a valuable tool for the study of one aspect of Dewey's thought that has long been neglected, and it surely contributes to a better understanding of the overall project of pragmatism by placing it in continuity with ancient lines of thought. -- Andree Hahmann, Georg-August-Universitt Gttingen, Germany * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *
Christopher C. Kirby and his collaborators have produced a beautifully conceived and articulated collection of essays that illuminates a long neglected facet of John Dewey's philosophy. Their insights enlarge our understanding of Dewey'sand our ownenormous debt to the thinkers who invented Western philosophy. * Larry A. Hickman, Center for Dewey Studies, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, USA. *

Author Bio

Christopher C. Kirby is Associate Professor of Philosophy, Eastern Washington University, USA.