Abstract

"Necessity" in The Necessity of Pragmatism means "necessary for." Dewey's philosophy is motivated by moral concerns--not covertly, but insistently and openly. Dewey, Sleeper contends, wants philosophy to be an organon of cultural integration and social improvement, and his version of pragmatism was intended to contribute to such a discipline. The fundamental contribution, Sleeper argues, is to show how inquiry can be at once rigorous, critical, and creative.