America's Philosophical Vision

In these previously uncollected essays, Smith argues that

American philosophers like Peirce, James, Royce, and

Dewey have forged a unique philosophical tradition—one

that is rich and complex enough to represent a genuine

alternative to the analytic, phenomenological, and

hermeneutical traditions which have originated in Britain

or Europe.

"In my judgment, John Smith has no equal today in

combining two scholarly qualities: the analysis of

philosophical texts with penetration and rigor, and the

discernment of what it is in these texts that matters.

These qualities are in evidence throughout the essays in

America's Philosophical Vision. Whether he is

evaluating Rorty's view of Dewey; the pragmatic theory of

experience and truth; theories of freedom, creativity,

and the self; Royce's conception of community; or

synoptic philosophic visions, Smith always succeeds in

uniting a comprehensive understanding of philosophic

writings with a sure grasp of their import for human

culture and aspiration. It is a great benefit to

students of American thought that these papers have now

been collected into one volume."—James Gouinlock, Emory

University