British Empiricism and American Pragmatism

This volume comprises revisions of Roth's previously published articles, tied together as a comparison of the empiricisms of Locke and Hume with the pragmatisms of Peirce, James, and Dewey. The chapters "Experience," "Cause and Effect, and Necessary Connection," and "Personal Identity" each summarize and discuss the five philosphers' views on the topic. The longest two chapters treat separately the moral, social, and political theories of the empiricists (Ch. 4) and the pragmatists (Ch. 5). Roth indicates the advances pragmatic empiricism makes over classical empiricism, while calling both inadequate. His statement that the question of personal identity had to be addressed first, with careful exclusion of the other dimensions of the person, before taking up social questions is a telling clue for understanding Roth's conclusion that the pragmatists' (primarily Dewey's) social self is too narrow and that the moral concept of obligation ultimately requires the creative activity of God and a renewed natural law theory. Accessible to undergraduates.——Choice

Clearly written, thoroughly researched, intelligently organized . . .——International Philosophical Quarterly