British Empiricism and American Pragmatism

Book excerpt: This volume contributes to the remarkable resurgence in interest for American pragmatism and its proponents, William James, C.S. Peirce, and John Dewey, by focusing on the influence of British empiricism, especially the philosophies of Locker and Hume, and the sharp differences between the two traditions. It is Roth's contention that American pragmatism, sometimes called America's first "indigenous" philosophy, something significant to say philosophically, not only America, but for the world. Heretofore, the lines of development and divergence between British empiricism and American pragmatism have not been sufficiently developed.