4 Comments
User's avatar
Drake Greene's avatar

I, too, wish that I could have a conversation with William James. He is a key figure in American intellectual life and seems to get so little attention now.

Expand full comment
Joel J Miller's avatar

Totally agree. I read ‘Varieties of Religious Experience’ about 12 or 13 years ago but that’s the extent of my experience with him.

Expand full comment
Drake Greene's avatar

I always start a new notebook with my favorite William James aphorism: "My experience is what I choose to attend to."

It combines the Stoic wisdom of Epectitus and Marcus Aurelius, with an American sense of agency and pragmatism.

Expand full comment
Scott Gibb's avatar

Surprisingly concise answers. Thank you Joel.

Expand full comment