Book contents
- John Dewey’s Human Nature and Conduct
- John Dewey’s Human Nature and Conduct
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Note on Citations of Dewey’s Work
- Introduction
- Part IEthical Theory
- Section IDewey and Ethical Theory
- 1Dewey’s Aristotelian Moral Psychology
- 2Human Nature, Norms, and Conduct
- 3Dewey’s Pluralistic Imagination
- 4Dewey’s Argument against Foundationalism in Ethics
- Section IIMain Concepts in Human Nature and Conduct
- Part IIEducation
- Section IEducation, Habit, and Growth
- Section IIEducation, Crisis, and Possible Futures
- Part IIIContemporary Issues and Applications
- Index of Names
- References
3 - Dewey’s Pluralistic Imagination
from Section I - Dewey and Ethical Theory
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 January 2026
Book contents
- John Dewey’s Human Nature and Conduct
- John Dewey’s Human Nature and Conduct
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Note on Citations of Dewey’s Work
- Introduction
- Part IEthical Theory
- Section IDewey and Ethical Theory
- 1Dewey’s Aristotelian Moral Psychology
- 2Human Nature, Norms, and Conduct
- 3Dewey’s Pluralistic Imagination
- 4Dewey’s Argument against Foundationalism in Ethics
- Section IIMain Concepts in Human Nature and Conduct
- Part IIEducation
- Section IEducation, Habit, and Growth
- Section IIEducation, Crisis, and Possible Futures
- Part IIIContemporary Issues and Applications
- Index of Names
- References
Summary
Abstract: In this chapter, Fesmire reassesses John Dewey’s Human Nature and Conduct (1922) through four enduring themes: the role of social habits in moral growth, the centrality of imagination in moral deliberation, the importance of unintended consequences in ethical decision-making, and moral progress as problem-solving. Fesmire describes Dewey’s view of moral dilemmas as entanglements of conflicting forces without absolute resolutions. Dewey’s theory of “dramatic rehearsal” describes moral deliberation as an imaginative process of anticipating outcomes. Dewey emphasizes the interconnectedness of means and ends, urging ethical inquiry that is experimental and adaptable. Fesmire situates this within Dewey’s later pluralism, which rejects singular ethical principles in favor of reconciling competing moral considerations. Dewey ultimately frames moral progress as an ongoing process of intelligent inquiry rather than adherence to fixed doctrines. As Fesmire shows, Dewey’s approach encourages democratic, participatory ethics, emphasizing open dialogue and flexibility in resolving moral conflicts.
Information
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- John Dewey's Human Nature and ConductA Centennial Handbook, pp. 42 - 52Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2026
References
Bergman, R. (2018b). Journalist details Israel’s “secret history” of targeted assassinations. National Public Radio, January 31. www.npr.org/2018/01/31/582099085/journalist-details-israels-secret-history-of-targeted-assassinations.Google Scholar
Edel, A. (2001). Ethical theory and social change: The evolution of John Dewey’s ethics, 1908–1932. Transaction.Google Scholar
Fesmire, S. (2003). John Dewey and moral imagination: Pragmatism in ethics. Indiana University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fesmire, S. (2024). Beyond moral fundamentalism: Toward a pragmatic pluralism. Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, M., & Schulkin, J. (2023). Mind in nature: John Dewey, cognitive science, and a naturalistic philosophy for living. MIT Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kitcher, P. (2019). Dewey’s conception of philosophy. In Fesmire, S. (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of Dewey. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Mead, G. H. (1930). The philosophies of Royce, James, and Dewey in their American setting. International Journal of Ethics, 40, 211–231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Merton, R. K. (1936). The unanticipated consequences of purposive social action. American Sociological Review, 1(6), 894–904.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
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