Sidney Morgenbesser on the American Pragmatists: Section 5

The American Pragmatists: C.S. Peirce, William James, John Dewey

In this program, Columbia University professor Sidney Morgenbesser discusses the nuances of pragmatic philosophy as expressed by three of America's greatest thinkers. Moranbesser examines Peirce's theory of meaning and the notion of fallibilism that supports the changing nature of truth. James' concept of meaning, knowledge, and truth is examined within the context of the usefulness of particular conceptual schemes. The discussion of Dewey focuses on the human quest for warranted beliefs, and his philosophy of education—a "bottom up" approach that bases instruction on a child's real problems and experiences.

Section 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YK65ooLTqg

Section 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMjI5039C1Q

Section 3:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njwLVD2jkGY

Section 4:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw2-Ig1lAB0

Section 5:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hh_fjYwGvM

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Bryan
• Magee
• Sidney
• Morgenbesser
• Pragmatism
• Pragmatists
• John
• Dewey
• William
• James
• C.S.
• Peirce
• Philosophy

[VVillowz]

Ble

[LooksAeterna]

My God, I am so grateful this interview is over !

[avastyer]

For people who had a problem with this discussion, either with Magee or Morgenbesser, there are a few things to consider.

Morgenbesser is known for his qualifiying approach, thus his discursive style is circuitous. His famous quotes such as "Yeah, yeah" to JL Austin, are usually replies to one-off questions or statements.

Because he is circuitous in explanation, the layman can get easily lost. This is Magee's role, as it is in all the other episodes. It was meant for a general audience.

[Jackies1979]

@HotChick69000000 Magee sets him certain "tasks" and demands which create a pretty unbalanced communicative situation, not a nice atmosphere. Notice, e.g., at the end of section 3, there is a passage when Morgenbesser actually becomes nice and flirtatious but Magee immeadiately refuses the offer by giving a similar example that he lectures intrusively over poor crazy Morgenbesser...

[Jackies1979]

@HotChick69000000 I should like to disagree here, in a way Morgenbesser is the most sincere or authentic talking partner of the series, not oversimplifying things and just repeating central catchy tenets of the philosophers talked about. If something like an expert sits there to talk about philosophy she should not just be a cheap ersatz for a philosophy encyclopedia, magee is too condescending, stiff, artificial to really warm Morgenbesser up.

[HotChick69000000]

I've watched many of the other episodes in the series, and I have loved all of them but this one. Morgenbesser is inarticulate and uninteresting. He rambles. He either forgets or disregards the lay audience, making no apparent effort to speak plainly or succinctly. What a disappointment. Watch the other videos and you'll see that Magee is an expert conversationalist. This interview fails because of Morgenbesser.

[firebreathone]

The last part was cut

[entropia34332]

he undertook rabbinical study at the Jewish Theological Seminary, then pursued graduate study in philosophy

[loregazer]

Thanks for adding these videos...Morgenbesser was one of the true originals in philosophy, and continues to be sorely missed...