William James Archives

An abstract painting of two swirling but never intersecting curving lines.

A defense of Charles Sanders Peirce and William James against the charge that their asymptotic approaches to truth and hope are juvenile.

Blog Philosophy

Why We Won’t Ever Arrive at Truth

January 3, 2023January 3, 2023 13 min read Ian Cran Charles Sanders Peirce, Hope, Meliorism, Pragmatism, Truth, William James

A defense of Charles Sanders Peirce and William James against the charge that their asymptotic approaches to truth and hope are juvenile.

While some pragmatists, including William James (right), argue truth is malleable and constantly changing, logician Charles Sanders Peirce (left) asserts it is our knowledge of truth that is variable, not truth itself.

Blog Philosophy

Truth as Pragmatism’s Only Hope

November 28, 2022January 4, 2023 6 min read Jon Alan Schmidt Charles Sanders Peirce, Hope, Meliorism, Pragmatism, Truth, William James

Although some pragmatists argue truth is malleable and constantly changing, logician Charles Sanders Peirce asserts it is our knowledge of truth that is variable, not truth itself.

An image of the pragmatist philosopher William James sitting on a stone wall talking with the philosopher Josiah Royce.

Pragmatism is an uncertain and pluralistic philosophy, but its malleability and modesty make it an incredibly hope-filled approach to life. (Image of philosophers William James and Josiah Royce in conversation.)

Blog Philosophy

What Do I Hope from Pragmatism?

November 15, 2022January 4, 2023 5 min read Jeffrey Howard Hope, John Dewey, Meliorism, Pragmatism, Richard Rorty, William James

Pragmatism is an uncertain and pluralistic philosophy, but its malleability and modesty make it an incredibly hope-filled approach to life.

A romantic oil painting featuring the pragmatist philosophers John Dewey and Richard Rorty sitting next to gentle streams multiplying away from them into the background.

Contrasting with hope in a fixed or eternal order, pragmatists John Dewey and Richard Rorty connect hope to continual growth and conversation.

Essays Philosophy

Dewey and Rorty: Sending Pragmatist Hopes in New Directions

November 3, 2022March 6, 2023 18 min read Nick Gall Hope, John Dewey, Meliorism, Pragmatism, Richard Rorty, William James

Contrasting with hope in a fixed or eternal order, pragmatists John Dewey and Richard Rorty connect hope to continual growth and conversation.

A romantic oil painting of three Victorian women overlooking majestic mountain peaks.

While pragmatists accept the tragic and boundless nature of a constantly changing and foundationless reality, William James offers hope in a naturalized theism.

Essays Philosophy

What Can Pragmatists Hope for in a Boundless World?

October 27, 2022March 2, 2023 20 min read Nick Gall Charles Sanders Peirce, Chauncey Wright, Hope, Meliorism, Pragmatism, William James

While pragmatists accept the tragic and boundless nature of a constantly changing and foundationless reality, William James offers hope in a naturalized theism.