William james biography summary example

Key Takeaways

• William James (1842 – 1910) was a leading figure in psychology and philosophy at the turn of the 19th century, whose contributions laid the groundwork for many modern philosophers and behavioral psychologists.
• James’ two main schools of thought, pragmatism, and functionalism, shape his theories on the world and his mission to seek out behaviors’ practical value and function.
• According to pragmatism, the truth of an idea can never be proven.

  James proposed we instead focus on what he called the “cash value,” or usefulness, of an idea.

• According to functionalism, mental activity (e.g., perception, memory, feeling) is to be evaluated in terms of how it serves the organism in adapting to its environment.
• James also made notable contributions beyond pragmatism and functionalism, namely the James-Lange theory of emotion and the theory of self.
• In addition to being a theorist and publishing many books, James was also a highly-esteemed professor at Ha