Additional information
by Frank M. Oppenheim (Author)
Josiah Royce and William James lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Irving Street, just two doors apart, and Charles Peirce grew up only blocks away. John Dewey was born and educated in nearby Vermont. These four great thinkers shared more than geographic space; they engaged in a series of formative philosophical discussions. By tracing the interactions of Royce (1855-1916) with James, Peirce, and Dewey, Oppenheim "re-imagines pragmatism" in a way that highlights the late Royce's role as mediator and favors the "seed-plant" image of O. W. Holmes, Jr., over the corridor image of Papini.
Josiah Royce emphasized that communities of all sizes--ranging from families to towns--needed "reverence for the relations of life" not only to thrive but to survive. This theme permeates the dialectic of Royce's interactions with Peirce, James, and Dewey. Oppenheim analyzes the agreement and disagreement of these thinkers on the method and content of philosophy, skepticism and intelligibility, and nominalism and intentionality, as he uncovers their varied stances toward transcendent Reality.
Oppenheim repudiates Ralph Barton Perry's tactic of using Royce as a foil to display James positively, by offering a richer portrait of Royce. Oppenheim calls attention to Royce's "doctrine of two levels" and its effects on the distinction of human and super-human, by showing the contrast of Royce's "third attitude of will" against two primarily self-centered attitudes of will, and by examining the roles of Spirit, Community, and semiotic process in Royce's late thought.
Back Jacket
Climaxing his long, prolific career as the preeminent interpreter of Royce's philosophy, Frank M. Oppenheim has achieved what rightly is called his magnum opus. Reverence for the Relations of Life is a learned and lucid study of Royce, in relation to Peirce, James, and Dewey. Effectively refuting earlier interpreters, such as Ralph Barton Perry, who have marginalized Royce, Oppenheim places him at the center of thought in late-19th and early-20th century America. The book is meticulously researched and it sparkles with fresh insight. --John Clendenning, California State University, Northridge
"Frank Oppenheim provides us with a rich, extraordinarily informed and judicious version of the kaleidoscopic relations undergone by C. S. Peirce, W. James, J. Royce, and J. Dewey. They represent one of the most creative clusters in the history of philosophy. Oppenheim refreshingly places Royce as the centerpiece, resulting in a work of impeccable scholarship and wisely tolerant intellectual biography." --John J. McDermott, Texas A&M University "This meticulous and thorough book is a major contribution to the field. Scholars and students in American philosophy and theology will need to take Oppenheim's work into serious consideration." --Kelly Parker, Grand Valley State UniversityAuthor Biography
Frank M. Oppenheim, who is widely regarded as an expert on Josiah Royce, brings more than 40 years of study to bear on this magnum opus. Reverence for the Relations of Life will be essential reading for those interested in American philosophy and theology.
