William james the varieties of religious experience tom. But he could not be diverted from his ruling passion, and the step from teaching physiology to teaching psychologynot the traditional mental science but physiological psychologywas as inevitable as it was. A study in human nature is a book by the harvard psychologist and philosopher william james comprising 20 lectures given at the university of edinburgh in scotland. William james was a psychologist, and as such, his interest in religion was not that of a theologian but of a scientist. The distinguished american psychologist william james in his book varieties of religious experience, indicates a multitude of ways in which men have discovered god. Do we accept it only in part and grudgingly, or heartily and altogether. He was born into an extremely intellectually gifted family and was educated in europe and the united states. William james james, william, 18421910 the online books page. I see why, for he addressed the very touchy subject of religion in calm and insightful ways. Here is my copy of william james s the varieties of religious experience. Essays philosophical and psychological in honor of william james, by e. His principles of psychology 1890 anticipated or inspired much 20thcentury research in the field.
The varieties of religious experience audiobook by. His twelvehundred page masterwork, the principles of psychology 1890, is a rich blend of physiology, psychology, philosophy, and personal reflection that has given us such ideas as the stream of thought and the babys. William james, american philosopher and psychologist, a leader of the philosophical movement of pragmatism and a founder of the psychological movement of functionalism. William james 18421910 an academic, pragmatist and theologian he believed that religious experience was at the heart of religion. Pdf the varieties of religious experience book by william. In the maelstrom of american modernism if youre like me, reading james will make you want to know more about him. In these 20 lectures, he discusses the nature and origin of religious belief. The most important of these manuscripts are those of the years 1903 and 1904 called the many and the one. William james quotes author of the varieties of religious. Michael slater has written a valuable, thorough, and thoughtprovoking book about william jamess views on ethics, religious faith, and the mutuallydependent relations between them. William james the varieties of religious experience. William james january 11, 1842 august 26, 1910 was a pioneering american psychologist and philosopher trained as a medical doctor. A study in human nature by william james longmans, green, 1912 ps primary source a primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic.
In casting about me for subjects of the two courses of ten. William james s lectures on religion, a century later joseph loconte, january 15, 2003, heritage book related and general links. James touches on so many matters of religion and, indeed, life and philosophy overall that the book makes valuable reading for anyone interested in humans generally. William james on science and spirituality, the limits of materialism, and the existential art of assenting to the universe at bottom the whole concern of both morality and religion is with the manner of our acceptance of the universe. A study in human nature by william james, my spirits soar. Free download or read online the varieties of religious experience pdf epub book. William james james, william, 18421910 online books about this author are available, as is a wikipedia article james, william, 18421910.
These lectures concerned the nature of religion and the neglect of science, in james view, in the academic study of religion. The first educator to offer a psychology course in the united states, james was one of the leading thinkers of the late nineteenth century and is believed by many to be one of. In william jamess lecture of 1896 titled the will to believe, james defends the right to violate the principle of evidentialism in order to justify hypothesis venturing. We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by which faith can be acquired. William james author of the varieties of religious. William james was a philosopher and psychologist from new york city.
Though obviously subjective, the survey did register a consensus of scholars teaching in the field and what follows is a commentary on each of those books which they selected. The basic issues james discusses here remain of vital concern to people in psychology and religion today. Among his many accomplishments, he was the first to teach a psychology course in the u. An authority on pragmatism and the philosophy of religion, wayne proudfoot and a stellar group of contributors from a variety of disciplines including religion, philosophy, psychology, and history. William james, in his famous book the varieties of religious experience, drew a contrast between what he calls once born and the twice born people. The book was an immediate bestseller upon its publication in june 1902.
Here a team of international experts present a collection of articles on william jamess philosophy of religion and its current relevance. This classic book was first published in 1902, and has remained in print ever since. Oct 10, 2016 by william james longmans, green, and co. In the maelstrom of american modernism by robert d. In pragmatism, william james attacked the transcendental, rationalist tradition in philosophy and tried to clear the ground for the doctrine he called radical empiricism. William james defense of faith was liberating national. A study in human nature is a book by harvard university psychologist and philosopher william james. This book would never have been written had i not been honored with an appointment as gifford lecturer on natural religion at the university of edinburgh. To prepare for the talks, harvard psychologist william james had read widely in the religious classics, including the personal accounts of various saints and mystics. The varieties of religious experience by william james. William james believed that individual religious experiences, rather than the precepts of organized religions.
This remarkable book is still in use today in the fields of psychology, religion, and philosophy see for example, charles taylors 2002 varieties of religious today. Here a team of international experts present a collection of articles on william james s philosophy of religion and its current relevance. William james wrote the principles of psychology 1890, the will to believe, and other essays in popular philosophy 1897, the varieties of religious experience 1902, pragmatism. The lectures concerned the psychological study of individual private religious experiences and mysticism, and used a range of examples to identify commonalities in religious experiences across traditions. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. The ethics of belief includes title essay by clifford, the will to believe by james, commentary by burger, also by william kingdon clifford and a. William james was an original thinker in and between the disciplines of physiology, psychology and philosophy. Review of william jamess the varieties of religious. William james was born on january 11, 1842, at the astor house in new york city. October 30, 2015 meaning of life religion classics john messerly william james 1842 1910 was trained as a medical doctor, was one of the most important figures in the history of american.
First published in 1905, the varieties of religious experience is a collection of lectures given at the university of edinburgh in 1901 and 1902. Along with his brother, henry james, the famous novelist, william was educated as a young man right across europe. James turned from physiology to psychology when he began teaching at harvard in 1875. William james the varieties of religious experience was first presented as a series of lectures at the university of edinburgh in 1901. Most books on the philosophy of religion try to begin with. William james january 11, 1842 august 26, 1910 was an american philosopher and psychologist who was also trained as a physician.
The varieties of religious experience by william james goodreads. This is a book of historic importance and should be read for its intellectual positioning as much as for its content. The science of religion is an important element in the interpretation of william james s work and in the methodology of the study of religion. William james was born at the astor house in new york city on january 11, 1842. List of books and articles about william james online. If you want to learn about art, why not go to florence. The varieties of religious experience project gutenberg. A study in human nature is a book by the harvard psychologist and philosopher william james that comprises his edited gifford lectures on natural theology delivered at the university of edinburgh in scotland between.
William james author of the varieties of religious experience. William james center for the study of religion and society. Reviewed by ellen kappy suckiel, university of california, santa cruz. In filial gratitude and love the varieties of religious experience. Apr 23, 2020 william james was a psychologist and philosopher who had a major influence on the development of psychology in the united states. Richard comstock t he central focus of the writings of william james is the attempt to construct a religious position that is viable in a modern scientific age. Standing at the crossroads of psychology and religion, this catalyzing work applied the scientific method to a field abounding in abstract theory. He talks, of necessity, quite a bit about the subconscious, which had just recently been invented, showing that profound religious experiences comes from there, though that doesn. James, william internet encyclopedia of philosophy. William jamess lectures on religion, a century later. Oct 18, 2010 o ne of the many spiritual confessions that william james records in the varieties of religious experience stands out. Letmesayonlythis,thatnowthatthecurrent,here andataberdeen,hasbeguntorunfromwesttoeast,ihopeitmay continue to. In these twenty lectures, he discusses the nature and origin of religious belief.
The works of william james harvard university press. In 1872 james was appointed instructor in physiology at harvard college, in which capacity he served until 1876. The varieties of religious experience is certainly the most notable of all books in the field of the psychology of religion and probably destined to be the most influential one written on religion in the twentieth century, said walter houston clark in psychology today. They are relatively untroubled by their own setbacks as well as by the suffering the world. William james william james interest in psychology. Slater, william james on ethics and faith, cambridge up, 2009, 247 pp. A popular edition of william james justly renowned varieties of religious experience is very useful because the attitude and method of the study, which made it a milestone in religious thought when james first delivered the substance of the volume as the famous gifford lectures at the university of edinburgh at the turn of the century, represent as. No 53 the varieties of religious experience by william james 1902 this revolutionary work written by henry jamess less famous brother brought a. In 1872 he joined the harvard faculty as lecturer on anatomy and physiology, continuing to teach until 1907, after 1880 in the department of psychology and philosophy.
William james was a psychologist and philosopher who had a major influence on the development of psychology in the united states. He provides the 4 criteria for religious experience and rests his conclusion on 3 key principles. William james, bill wilson, and the development of. William james 1842 1910 the varieties of religious experience. Psychology of religion a commentary on the classic.
Here is my copy of william jamess the varieties of religious experience. A study in human nature is a book by the harvard psychologist and philosopher william james that comprises his edited gifford lectures on natural theology delivered at the university of edinburgh in scotland between 1901 and 1902. The first edition of the novel was published in may 9th 1902, and was written by william james. It comprises his edited gifford lectures on natural theology, which were delivered at the university of edinburgh, scotland between 1901 and 1902. The main characters of this philosophy, religion story are george fox, walt whitman. Abstract william griffiths wilson, the acknowledged founder of alcoholics anonymous a. Walter houston clark in psychology today deemed it the most notable of all books in the field of the psychology of religion. Brother of novelist and foremost american philosopher was 68 years old ny times, august 27, 1910 william james professor frank pajares. The project gutenberg ebook of the varieties of religious experience by william james thisebookisfortheuseofanyoneanywhereintheunitedstates and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Librivox recording of varieties of religious experience, by william james. William james, bill wilson, and the development of alcoholics. James wrote widely on many topics, including epistemology, education, metaphysics, psychology, religion, and mysticism. A new name for old ways of thinking 1907, and other works. William james was a psychologist and, as such, his interest in religion was not that of a theologian but of a scientist.
Thus, he offers the lectures on pragmatism as the statement of a program that. Among his most influential books are the principles of psychology, a groundbreaking text in the field of psychology. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 519 pages and is available in paperback format. An authority on pragmatism and the philosophy of religion, wayne proudfoot and a stellar group of contributors from a variety of disciplines including religion, philosophy, psychology. William james, the son of philosopher henry james sr.
Quotations by william james, american philosopher, born january 11, 1842. Essays in radical empiricism, an important text in philosophy. The journal of religion volume 47 july 1967 number 3 william james and the logic of religious belief w. William james argument religious studies revision world. A study in human nature 2002, was a cofounder of a. Once born people appear biologically predisposed to happiness. You may copy it, give it away or reuse itunderthetermsoftheprojectgutenberglicenseincludedwith.
A study in human nature by william james free ebook project gutenberg. The varieties of religious experience pragmatism a pluralistic universe the meaning of truth some problems of philosophy essays library of america william james. The varieties of religious experience pragmatism a pluralistic universe the meaning of truth some problems of philosophy essays 2 likes we know the meaning so long as no one asks us to define it. Enjoy the best william james quotes at brainyquote. Born in new york city on january 11, 1842, william james was the oldest of the five children of henry james, sr. No 53 the varieties of religious experience by william james 1902 this revolutionary work written by henry james. The main characters of this philosophy, religion story are george fox, walt. He wrote influential books on the young science of psychology, educational psychology, psychology of religious experience and mysticism, and the philosophy of pragmatism. Most books on the philosophy of religion try to begin with a precise. William james, james, william 18421910 william james, the american philosopher and psychologist, was born in new york city to mary robertson walsh james and henr henry james author, william james.
This idea foresaw 20th century objections to evidentialism and sought to ground justified belief in an unwavering principle that would prove more beneficial. Numerous reflections on jamess work have appeared this year, most notably a short book by philosopher charles taylor, the varieties of religion today. I particularly agree that the outward forms of religious experience are widely varied, while the inner experiences are incredibly similar. The manuscripts in the rest of the volume contain james s reflections over 40 years in the form of drafts, memoranda, and notebook entries. William james the varieties of religious experience paperback december 14, 2016. The academic career also has its heroic obligations, so i stand here without further deprecatorywords.