Primary sourceLetter1899
The Philippine Tangle
William James · 1899
An 1899 letter James wrote to the Boston Evening Transcript denouncing the US war in the Philippines, part of his anti-imperialist campaign.
James wrote this letter himself, showing his public activism against American imperialism in the Philippines.
About this source
What it is
This is a letter to the editor of the Boston Evening Transcript, written by the philosopher and psychologist William James in 1899. James wrote it, according to one account, 'in a blind rage' over American policy toward the Philippines.
Why it matters
The United States had just fought a war with Spain and was now fighting to control the Philippines rather than grant it independence. James was among the public intellectuals who spoke out against this as a betrayal of American ideals. The letter shows a side of James beyond his academic philosophy: an engaged citizen using the press to shape public opinion on a major foreign policy question.
Look closer
- Why might a philosopher choose a newspaper letter, rather than an academic article, to make this argument?
- What does James suggest about the difference between public silence and private opinion?
- What words in the opening lines reveal his anger or urgency?
This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of William James on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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