Pragmatism

American psychologist and philosopher William James, brother of novelist Henry James, was born on January 11, 1842, in New York City, United States of America. He initially took an interest in the study of art but soon became demotivated, later enrolling in the Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University. He attended courses in chemistry and anatomy before dedicating himself to the study of medicine at Harvard Medical School. In 1867, he went to Germany to take a course with the physiologist Hermann von Helmholtz, the author who formulated the law of conservation of energy, and with Claude Bernard, an experimentalist. At that time, William James began to be influenced by Charles Renouvier, an idealist and relativist of the time. In July 1869, he graduated from medical school and in the following years, until 1872, he lived a period of individualism, taking refuge in his father's house, dedicating himself only to reading and writing articles. Later, he became a professor of Psychology and Philosophy at Harvard, a position he held until 1907.

William James championed the principle of functionalism in psychology, removing this discipline from its traditional place and establishing it as a science based on the experimental method. James applied his empirical research methods to philosophical and religious subjects and explored questions such as the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, free will, among others. William James also contributed to the theory of Pragmatism, a term initially used by the logician C. S. Peirce. James generalized the pragmatic method, developing it through a critique of the basic logic of the sciences. He defended the hypothesis that the meaning of ideas is found only in terms of their possible consequences. If the consequences do not appear, the ideas have no meaning. James strongly opposed the absolute metaphysical system and advocated that true psychology should be practical, useful, and effective. This dynamic conception also manifested itself in the field of pedagogy. The educator's attitude towards the child should be concrete and alive. In this sense, James opposes the abstract and analytical approach of psychology. William James also conducted experiments in animal psychology and developed a psychophysiological theory of emotions that proved to be very controversial. He stated that emotions are not a product of feelings but rather caused by the awareness of organic reactions. From this perspective, psychic events would be nothing more than the awareness of physiological variations. William James died in Chocorua on August 26, 1910.