GOVT 6606 - [The Politics of Pragmatism]

(crosslisted) AMST 6606

Fall. Next offered 2018-2019. 4 credits. Letter grades only.

A. Livingston.

This seminar will examine the political consequences of American pragmatism. Through a close study of the major works of William James and John Dewey we will explore pragmatist theories of inquiry, experience, faith and belief, agency, value, truth, power, and critique as resources for the study of politics. In addition to these canonical texts, we will consider historical and contemporary perspectives on pragmatism and politics from a range of thinkers, possibly including West, Rorty, Habermas, Bernstein, Bourdieu, Deleuze, Latour, Stengers, and Boltanski.