
By John Dewey
THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO PRESS CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
PREFATORY NOTE
I INTRODUCTION
II THE RELATIONSHIP OF THOUGHT AND ITS SUBJECT-MATTER
III THE ANTECEDENTS AND STIMULI OF THINKING
IV DATA AND MEANINGS
V THE OBJECTS OF THOUGHT
VI SOME STAGES OF LOGICAL THOUGHT
VII THE LOGICAL CHARACTER OF IDEAS
This collection brings together a series of essays that examine logic not as an abstract system but as a living process rooted in everyday experience. Drawing on early twentieth‑century insights, the author argues that thinking, reflection, and judgment are stages of inquiry that arise from more primitive, often social or affective, encounters with the world. By situating logical concepts within their temporal development, the work invites listeners to see how ordinary moments—like a casual conversation or an aesthetic appreciation—lay the groundwork for more formal reasoning.
The essays delve especially into the “intermediary stage” of knowledge, a phase that bridges raw experience and deliberate analysis. Through vivid contrasts—such as the difference between simply drinking water and understanding its nature, or between enjoying a painting and studying its technique—the author demonstrates how our minds shift from instinctive responses to intellectual scrutiny. The approach, informed by early behavioristic ideas, encourages a fresh perspective on how logical thought emerges from the flow of lived experience.
Language
en
Duration
~10 hours (616K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier, JoAnn Greenwood, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2012-09-19
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1859–1952
A leading voice in American pragmatism, he argued that ideas matter most when they help people solve real problems. His writing on education, democracy, and experience helped reshape modern thinking far beyond the classroom.
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