I am also greatly indebted to Bergson, William James, and…
“I am also greatly indebted to Bergson, William James, and John Dewey. One of my preoccupations has been to rescue their type of thought from the charge of anti-intellectualism, which rightly or wrongly has been associated with it.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Whitehead seeks to defend the intellectual tradition of Bergson, James, and Dewey against accusations of anti‑intellectualism.
In simple terms: He defends their ideas from anti‑intellectual criticism.
Key Takeaway
Support nuanced philosophical discourse.
Themes
philosophy
intellectual history
education
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic curricula
- public debates
- intellectual culture
Key Concepts
process philosophy
pragmatism
anti‑intellectualism
Questions to Reflect On
- Why are these thinkers labeled anti‑intellectual?
- How can their ideas be made accessible?
A Different Perspective
Complex ideas can be misunderstood by lay audiences.