Creative Intelligence: Essays in the Pragmatic Attitude

Boyd Henry Bode

1873–1953

A leading voice in American educational philosophy, this early champion of pragmatism argued that schools should help build democratic habits, not just pass along fixed ideas.

An early 20th-century American philosopher and teacher, he wrote about pragmatism, learning, and the philosophy of science, and spent much of his career at Stanford. His work connects academic philosophy with practical questions about how people think and learn.

A philosopher and educator who helped shape the idea of cultural pluralism in the United States, he argued that democracy could make room for many identities instead of melting them into one. His life and work connected immigration, Jewish thought, education, and public debate in a way that still feels strikingly modern.

George H. Mead

A key figure in American pragmatism, this influential philosopher helped shape the way scholars think about the self, society, and human interaction. His ideas became especially important in social psychology and symbolic interactionism.

A leading American pragmatist, this early 20th-century philosopher helped shape debates about knowledge, experience, and the practical work of philosophy. He taught for many years at the University of Chicago and became a national voice in the field.

Henry Waldgrave Stuart

1870–1951

A philosopher of value and education, he helped shape the early identity of Stanford’s philosophy department while writing in the pragmatic tradition of the early 20th century. His work connects big ideas about judgment, interests, and learning to everyday human experience.

James Hayden Tufts

1862–1942

A leading American philosopher of the early 20th century, he helped shape the University of Chicago’s philosophy department and wrote influential work on ethics and social thought. His collaboration with John Dewey made him an important voice in the development of pragmatism.