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American Pragmatism

Dewey and the Democratic Way of Life

Kevin S. Decker on John Dewey’s unique political contribution.

John Dewey (1859-1952) was hailed in his lifetime as “America’s philosopher of democracy”. His work on educational theory and social psychology at the Universities of Michigan – Ann Arbor and Chicago was one of the foundations of early 20th century progressive social work. He worked alongside such eminent figures as Jane Addams of Hull House and Ella Flagg Young, the educational reformer. A tireless critic of economic injustice and oligarchy, Dewey was sympathetic to American socialism but nonetheless helped form the non-socialist League for Independent Political Action to support left-wing third parties; additionally, he was a founding member of the pro-academic freedom American Association of University Professors in 1915, the New School for Social Research in 1919, and the American Civil Liberties Union in 1920.

Despite these involvements, placing John Dewey’s political thought into a niche in political theory today is a problem.

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