Transforming Experience: John Dewey's Cultural Instrumentalism
In Transforming Experience, Michael Eldridge defines what is central to Dewey's philosophy as "cultural instrumentalism," a version of pragmatism that understands thinking to be a tool for dealing with life's problems. For Dewey, philosophy's primary role is to develop this tool to better society and its members. In particular, Eldridge shows how this central aim of Dewey's philosophy applies specifically to the political and religious aspect of human experience.