Abstract

The year 1908 is particularly relevant in the process of reception of pragmatism in Europe due to the 3rd International Congress of Philosophy held in September in Heidelberg. On that international event the "new philosophy" coming from America was in the center of the European stage. In this study, some of the evidence available about the reception of pragmatism in Europe on the occasion of the Heidelberg International Congress of Philosophy held in 1908 are collected and summarizes. The paper is arranged in the following sections: 1) The reception of pragmatism in Europe; 2) The preparation of the congress and the opening lecture by Josiah Royce; 3) The development of the congress; 4) Several echoes and afterthoughts, and 5) A brief conclusion. The main conclusion is to highlight the relevance of the III International Congress of Philosophy in order to understand this complex process of affinity and hostility between pragmatism and the different European interlocutors. The Congress was really a milestone in that process and it is worthwhile to study with attention the lectures and communications, and in particular the discussions that followed them.