Essay - William James Was A Prominent Psychologist and Philosopher in the...

William James was a prominent psychologist *****nd philosopher in the early 20th century. Presently, *****' work is outdated, but only in the sense that Galileo's or Darwin's work is *****. Both Darwin and Galileo were originators in their respective fields. Their work served as a b*****is for many incredible discoveries and innovations in the modern world. The work of James, too, serves as a found*****tion for modern science. He is one of ***** founders ***** what we currently call psychology and philosophy today ("Significance and Influence," 2002).

***** was the originator of "pragmat*****m," and this new school ***** philosophical thought was so useful, ***** it even resonated in ***** works of such prom*****ent early physicists as Albert Einstein and Niels Bohr. These men depended upon, "a world of *****ts connected with one another by kinds ***** next-to-next relations, a world various, manifold, changeful, originating in chance, perpetuated by habits... and trans*****med by breaks, spontaneities, and freedoms" ("Significance and Influence," 2002). This ***** is a world that w***** first described ***** James in his works on pragmatism. In his famous novel entitled Pragmatism, James claims that the pragmatic method attempts "to *****terpret each notion by tracing its respective practical consequences" (p. 28). He also claims that in order ***** "develope a *****'s me*****ning, we need only determine ***** conduct it is fitted to produce: that ***** is for us ***** sole significance" (p. 29). In other words, James describes for men such as ***** ***** Bohr a w*****y ***** view scientific data -- everything has a consequence and thus everything has an origin. Because of James, ***** such as Einstein and Bohr k***** ***** if they develo*****ed a thought or idea inside of ***** heads, they needed to determine its ***** ***** its origin in order to connect it, practically, with the rest of the world.

***** if ***** only studies ***** influence that James had on men who wor*****ed in the ***** of "pure" science such ***** physics, one ***** only ga*****ing a periphery view of the *****, and thus the achievements of the great William James. Perhaps in order to understand better the accomplishments of this unique man, one should view his obituaries, and thus view a summ*****ry of ***** legacy he left on Earth when he died. One ***** his obituaries was printed in the New York Times ***** August 26th, 1910. T***** obituary claims that James' text entitled Principles of Psychology, "practically founded the modern science of ***** in America" ("Obituary," 2002, p.1). The obituary also claims that this ***** became a standard textbook for University uses. James ***** has had, and will cont*****ue to have, an everlasting influence on modern psychology. Without James, perhaps American psychology wouldn't be what is it today.

Besides changing the world of ***** *****ever, William James can add several other accomplishments to his resume. Early in James life, he ***** *****d by Louis Agassiz, who was a pupil of Charles *****. Agassiz started ***** out in a c*****reer as a zoologist.