William James

William James was a versatile thinker. He initiated the school of pragmatism, paved the way for modern perspectives in psychology, and made groundbreaking arguments in theology. James showed Americans that there was little difference among philosophy, psychology, and theology, and he combined them in a way that cleared the path for future American thinkers. Supports history-social science standards requiring students to identify common themes in American art and thought as well as transcendentalism and individualism.