Secondary sourceBook1912
William James
Émile Boutroux · 1912
A 1912 biographical study of William James by the French philosopher Émile Boutroux, written shortly after James's death.
A contemporary philosopher's study of James's life and ideas, written in the year after his death.
PDF · 144 pagesAbout this source
What it is
This is a short book about William James written by the French philosopher Émile Boutroux and published in 1912, the year of its appearance. It is a scanned copy held by the Internet Archive.
Why it matters
Boutroux was a contemporary philosopher writing soon after James's death, so his book shows how European thinkers assessed James's ideas on psychology, religion, and pragmatism almost immediately. It reflects James's international reputation during his lifetime and just after.
Look closer
- Why might a French philosopher be interested in an American thinker like James?
- What might be gained or lost by writing about someone so soon after their death?
- How might Boutroux's own philosophical views shape his account of James?
This book 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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