The Life and Mind of John Dewey

by George Dykhuizen, Harold Taylor Ph.D. (Introduction)

Since Dewey’s career and public ser­vices were even more extensive and varied than his writings, a knowledge of them is necessary for any adequate interpretation of his ideas and publi­cations. This big and important biog­raphy traces the events of Dewey’s ninety-two years and provides the chronology on which future scholar­ship must build. By studying original source materials in Burlington and Charlotte, Vermont; Oil City, Pennsylvania; the University of Vermont; the Johns Hopkins Uni­versity; the University of Michigan; the University of Minnesota; the Univer­sity of Chicago; Columbia University; by combing newspapers, correspon­dence collections, institutional records, and particularly by establishing personal contact and communication with family members and colleagues, Pro­fessor Dykhuizen has been able to develop a comprehensive, minutely accurate, definitive portrait of John Dewey. Without point of view or thesis, the book systematically exam­ines the life and mind of the man often called the philosopher of American democracy.

Genres: Biography

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one properly situates the work undertaken by Dykhuizen within it’s time and place, one cannot miss that this biography is a work of thoughtful and extensive scholarship. Dykhuizen wrote this in a time when not everything had been digitally archived and searching was hard(er) work. The last pages remind us that even the Complete Works project at the Southern Illinois University’s Center for Dewey Studies was only getting started, having published only five volumes of collected works from Dewey spanning his “Early years” of 1882-1898.

The biography is chronological but there are back and forth references made thematically, for example on Dewey’s many international visits or his stance regarding the USA’s involvement in WW I and WW II.

What stood out for me, having read a fair share of Dewey’s main works, is the often more nuanced character of argument and extended treatment of subjects in his many articles, papers, and talks, of which Dykhuizen treats a good amount.

Dykhuizen’s biography of Dewey can thus easily lead you as a first guide into many more interesting writings by Dewey on this or that educational, philosophical, socio-cultural, political, or (inter)national historical matters and topics. With the more easy availability of such material in the Complete Works there is no shortage of Dewey one can profitably read related to one’s interests or research specialties.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long narrative of an extremely powerful and influential man. Collection also includes photographs to personalize the educational giant. He was modest but profound. Recommended reading, although experience and education was more insightful to me.