The pragmatic theory of truth as developed by Peirce, James, and Dewey

This scholarly work offers a clear‑headed tour through the evolution of the pragmatic theory of truth, following its three most influential American champions. Beginning with Charles Peirce’s original formulation, the author traces how his ideas were reshaped—sometimes to his own frustration—by his own followers. The narrative then moves to William James, whose expanding, often emotionally resonant readings of pragmatism pushed the doctrine into new, sometimes controversial, territory.

The second part of the study turns to John Dewey, whose writings the author argues stay closest to Peirce’s initial intent, providing a useful counterpoint to James’s more radical stance. By juxtaposing their texts, the thesis highlights subtle contradictions, the shifting meanings of “truth,” and the ways each philosopher tried to rescue pragmatism from misinterpretation. Readers will come away with a nuanced picture of how a single philosophical concept can morph across decades while still retaining a core pragmatic spirit.