Philosophy Americana: Making Philosophy at Home in American Culture
by Douglas Anderson (9780823225514)

In this engaging book, Douglas Anderson begins with the assumption that philosophyathe Greek love of wisdomais alive and well in American culture. At the same time, professional philosophy remains relatively invisible. Anderson traverses American life to find places in the wider culture where professional philosophy in the distinctively American tradition can strike up a conversation. How might American philosophers talk to us about our religious experience, or political engagement, or literatureaor even, popular music? Andersonas second aim is to find places where philosophy happens in nonprofessional guisesacultural places such as country music, rockan roll, and Beat literature. He not only enlarges the tradition of American philosophers such as John Dewey and William James by examining lesser-known figures such as Henry Bugbee and Thomas Davidson, but finds the theme and ideas of American philosophy in some unexpected places, such as the music of Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette, and Bruce Springsteen, and the writingsof Jack Kerouac.The idea of aphilosophy Americanaa trades on the emergent genre of amusic Americana,a rooted in traditional themes and styles yet engaging our present experiences. The music is apopulara but not thoroughly driven by economic considerations, and Anderson seeks out an analogous role for philosophical practice, where philosophy and popular culture are co-adventurers in the life of ideas. Philosophy Americana takes seriously Emersonas quest for the extraordinary in the ordinary and Jamesas belief that popular philosophy can still be philosophy.

USD $25.00

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