Page:The Cambridge History of American Literature, v3.djvu/274

 ; 256 Later Philosophy an idealist in spite of his conversion. Like the Hegelian ideal- ists, he distrusts abstractions and prefers the "organic" point of view to that which views things as composed of distinct ekments. He differs from the Hegelians in this respect only in his contention that everything acquires its meaning by refer- ence to a changing "situation" instead of by reference to an all inclusive totality. Like the ethical idealists, also, Dewey insists with Puritanic austerity on the serious responsibility of philosophy. It must not be a merely aesthetic contemplation of the world, nor a satisfaction of idle curiosity or wonder. It imust be a means for reforming or improving. Just what con- ^ stitutes an improvement of man's estate we are not clearly told. I In his theory of education which forms the chief impetus and j application of his theoretic views the plasticity of human nature j is fully recognized; and he argues that intelligence not only f makes us more efficient in attaining given ends, but liberalizes 'f our ends. In the main, however, he emphasizes improved con- trol over external nature rather than improved control over our own passions and desires. Judged by the ever-increasing number and contagious zeal of his disciples, Dewey has proved to be the most influential ^ philosopher that America has as yet produced. This is all the more remarkable when we remember that all his writings are fragmentary, highly technical, and without any extraneous graces of style to relieve the close-knitting of the arguments. Clearly this triumph is due not only to rare personal qualities as a teacher but also to the extent that his thought corresponds to the prevailing American temper of the time. Dewey appeals powerfully to the prevailing distrust of other-worldliness, a 1 distrust which permeates even our theology with its emphasis on the social mission of the Church. The doctrine that all ideas are and ought to be instruments for reforming the world j
 * and making it a better place to live in, appeals at once to popu-

lar utilitarianism, to the worship of immediate practical results of which Theodore Roosevelt was such a conspicuous repre- sentative. In a country where so many great deeds in the conquest of nature are still to be performed, the practical man's contempt for the contemplative and the visionary- is re-enforced by the Puritanic horror of idle play and of things which are purely ornamental. A philosophy which views nature as