William James

Presented By: Naila Mushtaq

Ph.D 1st Semester
William James, (born January 11, 1842, New
York, U.S.—died August 26, 1910, Chocorua,
New Hampshire), American philosopher and
psychologist, a leader of the philosophical
movement of pragmatism and a founder of the
psychological movement of functionalism.
William James (1842-1910)
 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”.
 William James , the author of the pragmatic theory, defines truth in
terms of the usefulness of a belief. He thinks that useful beliefs are
true and useless belief are false.
Cont.

 William James was an original thinker in and between the

disciplines of physiology, psychology and philosophy. His twelve-
hundred page masterwork, The Principles of Psychology (1890), is
a rich blend of physiology, psychology, philosophy, and personal
reflection.
Epistemology

 Knowledge based on experience is true. All that can be known is

dependent upon experience.
 Phenomenon are constantly changing to knowledge about truth must
change accordingly.
 They emphasize on functional knowledge and understanding.
 No spiritual or ultimate value.
Cont.

James's epistemology is closely tied to his pragmatism. He

argued that the truth of an idea or belief is determined not by its
inherent properties but by its practical consequences. This
pragmatic theory of truth suggests that ideas are tools for action
and should be judged by their utility, effectiveness, and ability to
predict future experiences.
Metaphysics

 Rejects metaphysics as an area of philosophical enquiry.

 Realityis determined by individual’s sense experience – Man can
know nothing beyond his experience. So questions related to nature
of man or universe – simply cannot answer.
 Any conclusion we make about life after death is merely guess.
 Does not believe in anything spiritual or inspirational values.
 Reality is constantly changing.
Cont.

James is known for his pluralistic approach. He challenged the

traditional notion of a singular, absolute reality, proposing instead
that reality is multiple and constantly evolving. This view is
encapsulated in his famous concept of a "pluralistic universe,"
where reality consists of a multitude of experiences and entities
that are interconnected yet distinct.
Axiology

 Values are not real existents.

 Values change accordingly to difference in time and space.
 Man, being a part of society, the consequences of his actions are
either good or bad. If the consequences are worthwhile, then the
value of the action is proven to be good.
Cont.

James's contributions to axiology are less direct but can be inferred

from his writings on moral philosophy and the role of individual
experience in shaping beliefs and actions. He emphasized the
importance of personal experience and subjective interpretation in
determining moral values, which aligns with his pragmatic
approach to truth and reality.
Pragmatism

 Derived from Greek word ‘pragma’ which means work, practice,

action or activity.
 The philosophy that encourage people to find process that work in
order to achieve their desired ends.
 Pragmatists believe that reality is constantly changing that we learn
best through applying our experiences and thoughts to problem, as
they arise.
Principles of pragmatism
1. Pluralism
Philosophically, the pragmatists are pluralists. According to them there are as
many words as human beings. The ultimate reality is not one but many.
Everyone searches truth and aim of life according to his experience.
2. Emphasize on change
The pragmatist emphasize change. The world is a process, a constant
fluctuation. Truth is always in the making. The world is ever progressing and
evolving. Therefore, everything here is changing.
3. Utilitarianism
Pragmatists are utility is the test of all truth and reality. A useful principle is
true. Utility means fulfillment of human purposes. The result decide the good
and evil of the anything (Ideas, belief and acts). Utility means satisfaction of
human needs.
Cont.

4. Changing aim and values

The aim and values of life change in different times and regions. The
old aims and values, therefore, cannot be accepted as they are. Human
life and the world is a laboratory in which the aims and values are
developed.
5. Individualism
Pragmatists are individualists. They put maximum best upon freedom
in human life. Liberty goes with equality and fraternity. Everyone
should adjust to his environment.
Cont.

6. Emphasis on social aspects

Since man is a social animal therefore, he develops in social
circumstances. His success is success in society. The aim of education
is to make him successful by developing his social personality.
7. Experimentalism
Pragmatists are experimentalists. They give more importance to action
that ideas. Activity is the means to attain the end of knowledge.
Therefore, one should learn by doing constant experimentation which is
required in every field of life.
Educational implications
Education as life
 Pragmatists firmly believe that old and traditional education is dead and lifeless.
 Education is a continuous re-organizing, reconstructing and integrating the
experience and activities of race.
 Real knowledge can be gained only by activity, experiments and real life
experiences.
Education as growth
 Each child is born with inherent capabilities, tendencies and aptitudes
which are drawn out and developed by education. One of the aims of
education is to develop all the inherent capacities of the child to the fullest
extent.
Cont.
Education as a social process
 Man gains more knowledge through personal experiences than he gets
from books.
Education as a continuous restructuring of experience
 Knowledge is gained by experiences and experiments, conducted by
the learner himself.
 Education process has no end beyond itself.
Education the responsibility of state
 Education is the birth right of each individual and may not be within
the right of the individual, so the state should shoulder the
responsibility.
Roles
Teachers and administrators
 Teacher works as a friend and guide to the children.
 Teacher knows students interest and understanding regarding the
conditions of changing society.
 The teacher puts problems in front of the students which are
interesting and students are expected to solve it.
 Act as a facilitator and helps students in the right direction.
 Pragmatism believes in social discipline based on child’s interest,
activities and sense of social responsibility. It condemns enforced
discipline.
Cont.
Students
 Want experiences to make the learning real for the students.
 Pragmatists believe that learners should apply their knowledge to real situations
through experimental inquiry.
 This prepares students for citizenship, daily living and future careers.
Schools
 Schools philosophy is having students gain real experiences of actual-life
which develop social and sense of duty towards society and the nation.
 It is not only a sense of education but a sense of community.
 Preparing students to be better citizens.
Curriculum
1. Principle of Utility:
According to this principle only those subjects, activities and experiences should be
included in the curriculum which are useful to the present needs of the child and also
meet the future expectations of adult life as well. The subjects are such as Language,
Physical wellbeing, Physical training, Geography, History, Science, Agriculture and
Home Science for girls.
2. Principle of Interest:
According to this principle, only those activities and experiences where the child
takes interest are of four varieties namely (i) Interest in conversation (ii) Interest in
investigation (iii) Interest in construction and (iv) Interest in creative expression.
Keeping these varieties of interest in view at the primary stage, the curriculum
should include writing, counting, art, craft-work, natural science and other practical
work of simple nature.
Cont.
3. Principle of Experience:
The third principle of pragmatics curriculum is the child’s activity,
aptitude and experience. All these three should be closely integrated.
The curriculum should consist of such varieties of learning experiences
which promote original thinking and freedom to develop social and
purposeful attitudes.
4. Principle of Integration:
Pragmatic curriculum deals with the integration of subjects and
activities. Pragmatists want to construct flexible, dynamic and
integrated curriculum which aids the developing child and the changing
society more and more as he/she needs, demands and situation requires.
Aims of Education
To create new values:
The Pragmatists do not believe in the theory of any fixed aim of education. In their
opinion, the aim of education is to create new values and the act of teacher is to
help himself develop new values.
To enable pupils to gather experience through activity:
For the creation of new values, activity and experience are essential. Education
should therefore, provide physical, intellectual, moral and aesthetic activities as the
media for the creation of new values.
To help the pupil to adjust with him and the society:
The other important aim of education according to pragmatism is to help the pupil
to make adjustment with himself and the society.
Cont.
To help the pupil to reconstruct his experience:
Every individual has to solve different types of complex problems in his
life. So, another important aim of education, according to Pragmatism is
to enable the pupil to form such an outlook about life as can help to
tackle successfully the different problems of his life in future.
To make all round development of the pupil:
All round development of the individual is also an important aim of
education. The individual develops physically, mentally, socially and
aesthetically.
Evaluation system
 An evaluation system aligned would focus on assessing students' ability to apply
knowledge in practical, real-world contexts. Rather than solely relying on
traditional exams, assessment would include project-based evaluations, real-
world problem-solving tasks, and portfolios that demonstrate practical
application of skills and knowledge.
 The evaluation system would assess critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and
the ability to engage in reflective and independent thought. Tools like open-
ended questions, case studies, and critical analysis essays could be utilized.
 Evaluations would be designed to assess the learning process, including how
students approach problems, their ability to adapt and learn from mistakes, and
their development over time.
Pragmatism And Discipline
Pragmatists have opposed against the imposition of rules and
regulations to pupils. They believes in social and personal discipline,
In their opinion if we give them opportunities to participate in
different types of collective activities spontaneous discipline will grow
in them. Pragmatists believe that play and work should be combined
and this combination will perform a mental attitude and discipline. By
taking part in such activities the qualities like tolerance, sympathy,
mutual respect, attitude of service will be developed in them.
Discipline cannot be maintained through force and domination.
Children should be left free in order to develop freely and
harmoniously.
Conclusion
The practical outlook and utilitarian philosophy of Pragmatism has
tremendously influenced the education system in the present world.
The activity-based teaching and learning method have turned the
educational process to become purposeful. It has certainly infused a
sense of reality in education. This experimental character of education
enunciates the values in a child through his ideas. Pragmatism makes
him optimistic, energetic, creative and active. Thus, we can conclude
by saying that that Pragmatism has brought democracy in education.
The students learn the technique of managing their own
responsibilities which would prepare them to face the different
challenges of real life. It makes a man socially efficient i.e. he can
determine his goals according to his needs and interests.
THANK YOU