Paul Arthur Schilpp

In this volume the writings of John Dewey are subjected to careful scrutiny by seventeen great thinkers. Some have eulogized, some have reinterpreted -- but all have respected the work of that great and germinal mind. For thirty years John Dewey has been the most dynamic, arresting figure in American thought. Whereas the "traditional" philosopher too often concerned himself with matters seemingly remote and formalistic, Dewey was ever aware of the ferment of this developing democracy. The problems of every-day life, the "commonplace" in our culture, the direction of the educative process in the schools, the processes of politics, art, literature, science, religion--on all these John Dewey has left the impress of his thought. It was inevitable that Dewey's writings should raise questions and doubts, that readers should find points of difference and emphasis. Now for the first time Dewey himself is able to read and answer in one place the analysis and criticism of a group of eminent men. The result of this unique situation is the setting for a new type of intellectual experience--an opportunity to sit in a seminar with Dewey and some of the greatest of his critics.

The first volume of the Library of Living Philosophers (LLP) appeared in 1939, the brainchild of the late Professor Paul A. Schilpp. Schilpp saw that it would help to eliminate confusion and endless sterile disputes over interpretation if great philosophers could be confronted by their capable philosophical peers and asked to reply. As well as a number of critical essays with the chosen philosopher's replies to each essay, each volume would include an intellectual autobiography and an up-to-date bibliography The LLP series has exceeded even Schilpp's expectations, enabling great philosophers to do more than clarify by extending and elaborating their thoughts. A volume in the Library of Living Philosophers is not merely a commentary on a philosopher's work; it is a critical part of that work.

In this volume the writings of John Dewey are subjected to careful scrutiny by seventeen great thinkers. Some have eulogized, some have reinterpreted--but all have respected the work of that great and germinal mind. For thirty years John Dewey has been the most dynamic, arresting figure in American thought. Whereas the "traditional" philosopher too often concerned himself with matters seemingly remote and formalistic, Dewey was ever aware of the ferment of this developing democracy. The problems of every-day life, the "commonplace" in our culture, the direction of the educative process in the schools, the processes of politics, art, literature, science, religion--on all these John Dewey has left the impress of his thought. It was inevitable that Dewey's writings should raise questions and doubts, that readers should find points of difference and emphasis. Now for the first time Dewey himself is able to read and answer in one place the analysis and criticism of a group of eminent men. The result of this unique situation is the setting for a new type of intellectual experience--an opportunity to sit in a seminar with Dewey and some of the greatest of his critics.

Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, colleague of Gandhi, Nehru and Tagore, former Ambassador to the Soviet Union and now Vice-President of India, is regarded as the greatest living thinker of the East; the ablest representative of its rich philosophic tradition and its leading spokesman for a reconciliation of Eastern and Western spiritual values. In this volume, twenty-three world-renowned scholars have contributed a series of brilliant critical essays covering every aspect of Radhakrishnan's thought; his contributions to social philosophy and political philosophy, to modern religion and mysticism, to his influence on contemporary Hinduism, and his place in the main currents of twentieth century philosophy.

The format of this Library of Living Philosophers volume differs from that of its fifteen predecessors. Because of Sartre's failing eyesight, it was not possible for him either to read the critical essays or to respond in the usual way to his critics. Nor did he feel able to prepare an autobiography. Thus, in order to collect the material needed for the volume, it was necessary to conduct personal taped interviews with Sartre and then to have those interviews translated, edited, and arranged in an order that would approximate as closely as possible the customary format of the volumes in the Library of Living Philosophers series. Skillfully and conscientiously conducted, the interviews themselves resulted in a unique and valuable document. At the time they occurred, Sartre was in good health except for his near-blindness, and he answered questions in a lively and easy manner. Although he seemed most comfortable when talking autobiographically, he nevertheless responded to many of the philosophical questions raised by the contributors to this volume.