Young William James Thinking

Paul J. Croce identifies William James (1842–1910) as “a significant figure in many branches of philosophy, neuroscience, intellectual and cultural history, history of science, psychology, depth psychology intersecting with spirituality, religious studies, rhetoric, and even cultural studies and literature” (p. 20). James might be seen as a pioneer of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education. He wrote the most popular psychology textbook of his day, The Principles of Psychology (1890), as well as The Varieties of Religious Experience (1902) and Pragmatism (1907), in addition to dozens of other philosophical books, essays, and public lectures. James's intellectual foundation in both science and the humanities made his theories more intellectually persuasive; he needed that persuasiveness since—despite or because of his scientific training—James was open to the universe, including homeopathic remedies and seances. Like homeopaths, James's approach to medicine included the whole person, body and mind. In this illuminating intellectual history, Croce, professor of history and director of American studies at Stetson University and past president of the William James Society, practices what he calls “developmental biography,” using early notes, letters, and short publications to explore the academic and personal experiences that produced James's mature thought. This approach to James constitutes the book's contribution to the field (p. 21

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