The Public and Its Problems

A social and political philosophy classic. John Dewey clarifies the meaning and implications of concepts such as the public, the state, government, and political democracy in his characteristic and provocative dialectic style; distinguishes his a posteriori reasoning from a priori reasoning, which he claims pervades less meaningful discussions of basic concepts; and repeatedly demonstrates the interrelationships between fact and theory. Dewey, as in his previous writings, expresses his strong belief in the ability of human intelligence to overcome societys problems.