John Dewey

Human Nature and Conduct by John Dewey, published in 1922, examines the relationship between human nature and social behavior through the lens of pragmatist philosophy. Dewey breaks down human conduct into three fundamental elements: habit (behavior shaped by social repetition), impulse (innate driving forces), and intelligence (the creative capacity for adaptation). Dewey rejects traditional dichotomies such as instinct versus reason, proposing instead an integrated vision in which human beings, shaped by their environment, use intelligence as a tool to address moral and social challenges proactively. He demonstrates how collective habits form the basis of social cohesion, while intelligence allows individuals to transform impulses into ethical and innovative actions. This major work explicitly links ethics and democracy, arguing that a just society emerges when education fosters critical intelligence, enabling individuals to overcome dogma and act for the common good. The book naturally fits within the fields of pragmatist philosophy, social psychology, and applied ethics.

John Dewey (October 20, 1859 - June 1, 1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose ideas have been influential in education and social reform. He was one of the most prominent American scholars in the first half of the twentieth century. The overriding theme of Dewey's works was his profound belief in democracy, be it in politics, education, or communication and journalism. As Dewey himself stated in 1888, while still at the University of Michigan, "Democracy and the one, ultimate, ethical ideal of humanity are to my mind synonymous." Dewey considered two fundamental elements-schools and civil society-to be major topics needing attention and reconstruction to encourage experimental intelligence and plurality.