Wittgenstein and William James

This book explores Wittgenstein’s long engagement with the work of the pragmatist William James. In contrast to previous discussions Russell Goodman argues that James exerted a distinctive and pervasive positive influence on Wittgenstein’s thought. For example, the book shows that the two philosophers share commitments to anti-foundationalism, to the description of the concrete details of human experience, to the priority of practice over intellect, and to the importance of religion in understanding human life. Considering in detail what Wittgenstein learnt from his reading of Principles of Psychology and Varieties of Religious Experience the author provides considerable evidence for Wittgenstein’s claim that he is saying ‘something that sounds like pragmatism’. This provocative account of the convergence in the thinking of two major philosophers usually considered as members of discrete traditions will be eagerly sought by students of Wittgenstein, William James, pragmatism and the history of twentieth-century philosophy.

• Books on Wittgenstein and William James tend to sell well • Interesting account of the influence of one on the other that will interest students of twentieth-century philosophy and American pragmatism

Preface; Abbreviations; Introduction; 1. Varieties of pragmatic experience; 2. Wittgenstein and The Varieties of Religious Experience; 3. Wittgenstein and The Principles of Psychology: an introduction; 4. What is it like to be a human being?; 5. Language and meaning; 6. Pragmatism reconsidered; Coda; Notes; Index.

\'Goodman writes clearly, has an excellent grasp of the material and his book is well constructed.\' – Oxford Academic Journals

‘Goodman succeeds in producing a careful and readable study of James’s positive influence on Wittgenstein’s philosophical development.’ – Journal of Moral Education

‘… scholarly and engaging … The book is illuminating in many ways, and will reward students of James as well as students of Wittgenstein. … Goodman tells this story very well indeed.’ – Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society