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Head of the Philosophy Department at the University of Chicago
Dewey’s time at the university of Chicago is seen as the time in which his early idealism evolved to become pragmatism, the philosophical thinking he is known to be a major leader in. Pragmatism is described as a movement in which the meaning of a proposition is substantiated in its practical application and ideas without are rejected. It is also during this time that he published notable works such as The School and Society (1899), and Studies in Logical Theory (1903). -
The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology
John Dewey displayed his pragmatic views by criticizing the traditional “Reflex Arc” model by arguing that a person does not learn by responding to a stimulus, but instead by actively engaging with their environment in an ongoing process to observe new phenomena. Learning occurs when a child, engaged in exploring the kitchen, interacts with a hot stove, burns their fingers, and commits to the lesson by correcting their behavior in the future. -
School and Society (1896) and Democracy and Education (1916)
A child’s education should not be seen as a preparation for civil life, but instead as an extension of society. Instead of memorizing disjointed facts and ideas, a child should be encouraged to engage with a community and pursue interests in cooperation with others. -
Studies in Logical Theory
A detailed 3-phase analysis of the process of inquiry. Beginning with the problematic situation, the individual is presented with an obstacle that their current level of knowledge cannot overcome. They then analyze the mechanical functions at work within the obstacle. Finally, the individual reflects on different hypothetical solutions. Upon successful execution of one of these solutions, the individual learns a practical method to use later in life. -
Citation
Hildebrand, David, "John Dewey", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2021/entries/dewey/. Field, Richard, “John Dewey (1859—1952)“, Internet Encyclopedia of Knowledge, URL= https://iep.utm.edu/john-dewey/ McDermid, Douglas, “Pragmatism“, Internet Encyclopedia of Knowledge, URL= https://iep.utm.edu/pragmati/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xm5Chi2I-0g