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Great Ideas On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings
William James's strong beliefs in a pragmatic theory of truth - that truth is only as relevant as its effect on us - lead to these absorbing essays on fact and belief. Within them is a fascinating theory of reality that suggests nothing is truly 'real' without examination through human empathy and experience.
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.
115 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1907
11 people are currently reading
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About the author
William James
344 books1,349 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
William James (January 11, 1842 – August 26, 1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist who was also trained as a physician. The first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States, James was one of the leading thinkers of the late nineteenth century and is believed by many to be one of the most influential philosophers the United States has ever produced, while others have labelled him the "Father of American psychology". Along with Charles Sanders Peirce and John Dewey, he is considered to be one of the greatest figures associated with the philosophical school known as pragmatism, and is also cited as one of the founders of the functional psychology. He also developed the philosophical perspective known as radical empiricism. James' work has influenced intellectuals such as Émile Durkheim, W. E. B. Du Bois, Edmund Husserl, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Hilary Putnam, and Richard Rorty.
Born into a wealthy family, James was the son of the Swedenborgian theologian Henry James Sr and the brother of both the prominent novelist Henry James, and the diarist Alice James. James wrote widely on many topics, including epistemology, education, metaphysics, psychology, religion, and mysticism. Among his most influential books are Principles of Psychology, which was a groundbreaking text in the field of psychology, Essays in Radical Empiricism, an important text in philosophy, and The Varieties of Religious Experience, which investigated different forms of religious experience.
William James was born at the Astor House in New York City. He was the son of Henry James Sr., a noted and independently wealthy Swedenborgian theologian well acquainted with the literary and intellectual elites of his day. The intellectual brilliance of the James family milieu and the remarkable epistolary talents of several of its members have made them a subject of continuing interest to historians, biographers, and critics.
James interacted with a wide array of writers and scholars throughout his life, including his godfather Ralph Waldo Emerson, his godson William James Sidis, as well as Charles Sanders Peirce, Bertrand Russell, Josiah Royce, Ernst Mach, John Dewey, Macedonio Fernández, Walter Lippmann, Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, Jr., Henri Bergson and Sigmund Freud.
William James received an eclectic trans-Atlantic education, developing fluency in both German and French. Education in the James household encouraged cosmopolitanism. The family made two trips to Europe while William James was still a child, setting a pattern that resulted in thirteen more European journeys during his life. His early artistic bent led to an apprenticeship in the studio of William Morris Hunt in Newport, Rhode Island, but he switched in 1861 to scientific studies at the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University.
In his early adulthood, James suffered from a variety of physical ailments, including those of the eyes, back, stomach, and skin. He was also tone deaf. He was subject to a variety of psychological symptoms which were diagnosed at the time as neurasthenia, and which included periods of depression during which he contemplated suicide for months on end. Two younger brothers, Garth Wilkinson (Wilky) and Robertson (Bob), fought in the Civil War. The other three siblings (William, Henry, and Alice James) all suffered from periods of invalidism.
He took up medical studies at Harvard Medical School in 1864. He took a break in the spring of 1865 to join naturalist Louis Agassiz on a scientific expedition up the Amazon River, but aborted his trip after eight months, as he suffered bouts of severe seasickness and mild smallpox. His studies were interrupted once again due to illness in April 1867. He traveled to Germany in search of a cure and remained there until November 1868; at that time he was 26 years old. During this period, he
William James (January 11, 1842 – August 26, 1910) was an American philosopher and psychologist who was also trained as a physician. The first educator to offer a psychology course in the United States, James was one of the leading thinkers of the late nineteenth century and is believed by many to be one of the most influential philosophers the United States has ever produced, while others have labelled him the "Father of American psychology". Along with Charles Sanders Peirce and John Dewey, he is considered to be one of the greatest figures associated with the philosophical school known as pragmatism, and is also cited as one of the founders of the functional psychology. He also developed the philosophical perspective known as radical empiricism. James' work has influenced intellectuals such as Émile Durkheim, W. E. B. Du Bois, Edmund Husserl, Bertrand Russell, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Hilary Putnam, and Richard Rorty.
Born into a wealthy family, James was the son of the Swedenborgian theologian Henry James Sr and the brother of both the prominent novelist Henry James, and the diarist Alice James. James wrote widely on many topics, including epistemology, education, metaphysics, psychology, religion, and mysticism. Among his most influential books are Principles of Psychology, which was a groundbreaking text in the field of psychology, Essays in Radical Empiricism, an important text in philosophy, and The Varieties of Religious Experience, which investigated different forms of religious experience.
William James was born at the Astor House in New York City. He was the son of Henry James Sr., a noted and independently wealthy Swedenborgian theologian well acquainted with the literary and intellectual elites of his day. The intellectual brilliance of the James family milieu and the remarkable epistolary talents of several of its members have made them a subject of continuing interest to historians, biographers, and critics.
James interacted with a wide array of writers and scholars throughout his life, including his godfather Ralph Waldo Emerson, his godson William James Sidis, as well as Charles Sanders Peirce, Bertrand Russell, Josiah Royce, Ernst Mach, John Dewey, Macedonio Fernández, Walter Lippmann, Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, Jr., Henri Bergson and Sigmund Freud.
William James received an eclectic trans-Atlantic education, developing fluency in both German and French. Education in the James household encouraged cosmopolitanism. The family made two trips to Europe while William James was still a child, setting a pattern that resulted in thirteen more European journeys during his life. His early artistic bent led to an apprenticeship in the studio of William Morris Hunt in Newport, Rhode Island, but he switched in 1861 to scientific studies at the Lawrence Scientific School of Harvard University.
In his early adulthood, James suffered from a variety of physical ailments, including those of the eyes, back, stomach, and skin. He was also tone deaf. He was subject to a variety of psychological symptoms which were diagnosed at the time as neurasthenia, and which included periods of depression during which he contemplated suicide for months on end. Two younger brothers, Garth Wilkinson (Wilky) and Robertson (Bob), fought in the Civil War. The other three siblings (William, Henry, and Alice James) all suffered from periods of invalidism.
He took up medical studies at Harvard Medical School in 1864. He took a break in the spring of 1865 to join naturalist Louis Agassiz on a scientific expedition up the Amazon River, but aborted his trip after eight months, as he suffered bouts of severe seasickness and mild smallpox. His studies were interrupted once again due to illness in April 1867. He traveled to Germany in search of a cure and remained there until November 1868; at that time he was 26 years old. During this period, he
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 29, 2013
This is a book with some interesting parts, and occasionally a wonderful few sentences of prose. It could be of interest to anyone interest in the meaning of truth. Mostly it is a straightforward read, and much is enjoyable, but its origin as a series of lectures is apparent and it can be a little dull at times. There are some very interesting concepts explored, but I find it hard to consider this as one of the most important ideas of time to justify its place in Penguins "Great Ideas" series - some of which are truly wonderful. If you are interested in the pragmatic theory of truth, or early twentieth century intellectual oddities, it may be worth a try, otherwise I would give it a miss.
July 17, 2020
I have always appreciated the writing style of James, which stands in high contrast to so many psychologists who came after. In this work James recognizes the creeping loss of purpose and clarity of man in the ever/never-changing civilized world. His solutions and observations are simple and powerful. I can't say I agree with everything, his view is more open to the potential beauty of all than I would be willing to accept. It is still a worthy read, with accessable tools for a valuable paradigm shift.
December 30, 2017
I've always wanted to read William James. Considered America's only true contributor to the Western philosophical cannon, James' pragmatist approach to life is a real breath of fresh air. This anthology of essays covers a lot ranging from James' thoughts on how to live a good life, to the tenants of pragmatism, and to the importance of memory. My only criticism is of how fragmented this anthology is - I feel as if it tries to cover too much in too little a space.
April 30, 2015
A collection of lectures by William James carefully selected for thematic unity by the good people at Penguin. With his characteristic wit, clarity and precision, James explains the method of pragmatism and then uses it to address questions of whether life is worth living, the belief in the existence of God and free-will, among others. A top shelf book.
November 12, 2017
Get ready for some dense and academic writing with some sprinklings of other people's poetry and prose.
On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings
The Tigers in India
Is Life Worth Living
What Pragmatism Means
Some Metaphysical Problems Pragmatically Considered
On a Certain Blindness in Human Beings
The Tigers in India
Is Life Worth Living
What Pragmatism Means
Some Metaphysical Problems Pragmatically Considered
November 28, 2025
Hơi trừu tượng, chung chung, nhưng giọng văn vẫn rất hay
Không đồng tình với vài quan điểm, nhưng cũng đáng để đọc và suy ngẫm
Không đồng tình với vài quan điểm, nhưng cũng đáng để đọc và suy ngẫm
September 10, 2014
I found reading William James’s 5 essays in this book inspiring and challenging since he has written with ideas, reasons and arguments appropriate to his readers; however, the last two on “What Pragmatism Means” and “Some Metaphysical Problems Pragmatically Considered” seem to satisfy those having good background on his philosophy who would better understand them, especially, in the field of pragmatism.
October 3, 2014
Everyone, teachers and college kids, should read this book! Not just because you could probably get it free online, but, the second lecture in particular, carry such passionate weight and the ability to stir up a true sense of deep postulation of the human condition as well as the looking into the future of our lives makes this an excellent read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews