Democratic Temperament: The Legacy of William James

by Joshua I. Miller, Sheldon S. Wolin (Foreword)

Nineteenth-century psychologist and pragmatist philosopher William James is rarely considered a political theorist. Renowned as the author of The Principles of Psychology and The Varieties of Religious Experience, James is often viewed as a radical individualist with no interest in politics; yet he was a critic of imperialism and absolutism and an advocate of tolerance, and his writing includes a penetrating analysis of political psychology.

This first book by a political theorist devoted exclusively to James's theory argues that political concerns were in fact central to his intellectual work. Joshua Miller links James to the contemporary public dialogue by treating him as a theorist of action and exploring the complexities of that theory. He also relates the philosopher's thought to his own political experiences and observations and--by explicating, criticizing, and meditating on James--develops provocative new ideas about issues facing democracy today.

At the heart of the book is James's description of the "democratic temperament," which comprises a willingness to act, the placing of public good ahead of private comfort, generosity toward one's opponents, and mutual respect among citizens of different viewpoints, races, genders, classes, and religions. Miller sees this temperament as a healthy corrective to the mean-spiritedness that characterizes so much current political discourse, which is precisely what makes James's insights so relevant to today's political environment. By revealing how James speaks to the paradoxical condition of modern political existence--withdrawal from public life combined with fanatical action--Miller shows how James's views apply to the possibility and problems of reviving participatory democracy in our era.

Scholars who have never considered the political aspects of James's work will find in this study a new way of approaching him and of reconsidering radical democracy, while readers unfamiliar with James will find it a highly accessible introduction to a significant aspect of his thought. Democratic Temperament clearly shows that James deserves to be read not only for his recognized genius but also for his fresh and unexpected insights into the possibilities and paradoxes of American democratic political consciousness.

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Andrew Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not your standard biography instead it is a compilation of James' thoughts on the democratic process. William James was a famous American philosopher (1842-1910) who taught both psychology and philosophy at Harvard in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. His students included George Santayana, Gertrude Stein, W.E.B. Dubois, and Theodore Roosevelt. James believed that in a free speech society all views should be aired uncensored unless they would cause immediate harm to a person or group. He also wanted citizens to take an active role in their country even if it meant raising their families and paying their bills. James developed a form of philosophy known as pragmatism which gave the individual the tools necessary to see their own way in society while still following the rules. Citizens should be active in causes that they believe are just in order to change government policy. Most importantly, he believed that society served the needs of all of the people and not just the elite. Miller does a great job with this book and intersperses it with stories of his own which give more illumination to the important points he is trying to make. If you want to learn more about our values, I would recommend this book highly.

[Frank Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

William James on political philosophy? You bet. Miller puts together WJ's ideas about how governments should work from his writings. The idea is that James' ideas about taking action and judging from the consequences, considering all points of view, and respecting others go together to make a good theory of how democratic governments should work. There is a chapter on the part of education in all of this. Another chapter discusses James' ideas about gender. Take a look.