Denton Loring Geyer
The pragmatic theory of truth as developed by Peirce, James, and Dewey
"The Pragmatic Theory of Truth as Developed by Peirce, James, and Dewey" by Denton Loring Geyer is a philosophical thesis written in the early 20th century. This work examines the development of the pragmatic theory of truth as articulated by three prominent American philosophers: Charles Sanders Peirce, William James, and John Dewey. Through this discussion, Geyer traces how each philosopher contributed to the evolving understanding of pragmatism, particularly in relation to truth, belief, and knowledge. The opening of this thesis lays out the purpose and structure of Geyer’s argument, beginning with an examination of Peirce's original notion of pragmatism and its relationship to the meaning of truth. Geyer critiques how Peirce's ideas were interpreted and potentially distorted by some of his followers, notably James and Schiller. He indicates that those interpretations did not fully capture the complexities of Peirce's arguments, leading to significant debates within pragmatic philosophy. The text emphasizes the importance of understanding the specific contributions of each thinker, setting the stage for a detailed analysis of pragmatism’s relationship to concepts of reality and truth as influenced by empirical investigation and individual interpretation.