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The “Permanent Hegelian Deposit” in John Dewey’s Theory

Guzman, Dahlia

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2010, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Philosophy.

In John Dewey’s essay “From Absolutism to Experimentalism,” he claims the source of his “Hegelianism” was fueled by his need for unification between all manner of human institutions and endeavors. Dewey was also greatly influenced by the notion that “science...should be a regulative method of an organized social life.” These influences are seen in Dewey’s philosophical theory. And even as Dewey admits to “drifting away from Hegelianism,” yet “that acquaintance with Hegel …left a permanent deposit in my thinking.” This “permanent deposit” he refers to is more tangibly expressed as a Hegelian approach to the relation of subject and object that is consistently affirmed in both theory and practice. I hope to show in this thesis is that Hegel’s influence can be seen in their similar answer to the objectivity problem: that a foundational and dynamic unity of subject and world provides the conditions under which knowledge occurs. Specifically, I argue that there are several elements of their respective circuits that are analogous to one another in terms of their function within each system. I draw out the theoretical similarities, the structural similarities of Hegelian sublation and Dewey’s instrumentalism, as well as the repetitive, interactive activity of a subject with the world in which knowledge unfolds. Hegel emphasizes the development of a self that is the basis for any possibility for knowledge. Dewey’s method emphasizes experience as the basis for knowledge. Emphasis on method stresses an approach to knowledge by which objects, and how they come to be known, are constantly modified and interpreted by and within experience. The method is informed by the subject matter and experience, but does not imply a fully developed system or a specific template by which to guide inquiry. Expanded in Dewey’s theory, experience is redefined that moves it out of the subjective. Experience is how the quest for knowledge begins as well as how we test and affirm claims. In the effort to illuminate the similarities, connections are drawn between Dewey’s and Hegel’s approaches and theories that I believe are found in their attempt to tackle the problem of objectivity that Kant sought to resolve. By acknowledging the part Kant’s project plays both in Hegel’s and Dewey’s thought supports the comparison between Hegel and Dewey.

Frank X. Ryan, PhD (Advisor)
Linda Williams, PhD (Committee Member)
David Odell-Scott, PhD (Committee Member)
87 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Guzman, D. (2010). The “Permanent Hegelian Deposit” in John Dewey’s Theory [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1279387271

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Guzman, Dahlia. The “Permanent Hegelian Deposit” in John Dewey’s Theory. 2010. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1279387271.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Guzman, Dahlia. "The “Permanent Hegelian Deposit” in John Dewey’s Theory." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1279387271

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)