Courses

Truth, the American pragmatists argued, is not an abstract ideal—it is what works. Rejecting rigid logic and fixed dogmas, Charles Peirce, William James, and John Dewey redefined knowledge as something tested in experience, a living process shaped by action and adaptation. Pragmatism, a distinctly American philosophy that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, transformed philosophy, shifting debates on science, religion, education, and democracy. From Peirce’s concept of truth as a "habit of action" to James’s defense of religious belief and Dewey’s vision of learning as experimentation, Pragmatism linked philosophy to everyday life. We will also examine its enduring impact: How does Pragmatism help us navigate an era of misinformation? What can it teach us about artificial intelligence, policymaking, and evolving notions of truth? Through discussions and case studies, students will engage with a philosophy built for change—one that continues to shape how we think, decide, and act in the world.