John Dewey: An Intellectual Portrait

Considered by some the most controversial American philosopher of contemporary times SIDNEY HOOK (1902-1989) was infamous for the wild swing in his political thought over the course of his career starting out as a young Marxist before the Great Depression and ending up a vehement anti-Communist in his later years. Much of what he taught and valued as a thinker he learned as the prize pupil of American educator and philosopher John Dewey. In John Dewey: An Intellectual Portrait first published in 1939 Hook examines Deweys approach to philosophy in clear nontechnical language meant to offer insight into and illustration of the sweep and vitality of Deweys vision. A staunch pragmatist-a developer of the philosophical discipline that insists upon taking into account the real-world impact of concepts of truth and meaning-Dewey explored theories of idealism politics and society that continue to be vitally relevant today. Hooks exploration deepens our appreciation of Deweys ongoing impact on American culture.