Puritans & Pragmatists

Paul K. Conkin is Distinguished Professor Emeritus at Vanderbilt University.

Preface to the New Edition Chapter I The Puritan Prelude God and Man Morals and Society Spirit and Matter Part One: Diverse Puritans Chapter II Jonathan Edwards: Theology Ultimate Concerns The Great Awakening and Affectionate Religion The Battle against Arminianism Chapter III Benjamin Franklin: Science and Morals Career and Character Natural Science Moral Science Chapter IV John Adams: Politics Portrait of an Enlightened Puritan In Defense of Liberty The Republican Idea Part Two: In Transition Chapter V Ralph Waldo Emerson: Poet-Priest The Early Pilgrimage Self-Reliance Philosophy Intellect and Art Part Three: Three Pragmatists Chapter VI Charles S. Peirce Life Signs and Relations Inquiry and the Pragmatic Test The categories and Realism Scientific Metaphysics Axiology and Religion Chapter VII William James The Courageous Pilgrimage Psychology Voluntarism In Pursuit of an Ontology Pragmatism Practical Concerns Chapter VIII John Dewey The Long Pathway to Naturalism The Metaphysical Framework Epistemology Value Philosophy in Action Part Four: In Retreat Chapter IX George Santayana Life The Metaphysical Foundation Epistemology Axiology Politics and Art Religion A Reading Guide Index

"Conkin's book is a remarkable effort at synthesis and elucidation. The perennial nature of philosophy - nature, mind, reality, values, consciousness, and so forth - reappear in this impressive study of major American thinkers. - JOHN P. DIGGINS, Journal of American History One can immediately grant the honesty and conviction [of this work], but the third quality that impresses the reader...is a highly impressionistic style. - A. OWEN ALDRIDGE, The American Historical Review Paul Conkin's volume is a most extraordinary piece of work. - JOHN HIGHAM, Johns Hopkins University"