John Dewey (1859–1952)

Born in Vermont on 20 October 1859, John Dewey was one of the most controversial philosophy professors of his generation. He published more than 700 articles and wrote approximately 40 books in his lifetime, tackling a wide range of subjects such as philosophy, psychology, political science, education, aesthetics, and the arts. Inspired by William James and Charles Sanders Peirce, Dewey developed his own theory of pragmatism which is often referred to as instrumentalism or experimentalism. Dewey’s notion of experience lies at the core of his philosophy. This chapter examines Dewey’s philosophical views, including those on the relationship between man and the environment, continuity and habit, situation, knowledge, and enquiry. It also discusses the relevance of his pragmatism to organization studies, including organizational learning.