Social Constructionism and the Legacy of James' Pragmatism

The purpose of this paper is to delineate the role that American philosophy has played in opening the door for social constructionist thought. I assert that James' pragmatism is the main, American, theoretical precursor of the present-day social constructionist movement. More specifically, I compare and contrast William James' work on pragmatism with Kenneth Gergen's approach to social constructionism. There are four main parallels between Gergen's social constructionism and James' pragmatism. The first concerns the importance of `utility' as a method for evaluating truth. Second, James and Gergen both embrace philosophical pluralism. Third, each theorist examines the social construction of knowledge within his respective era. Finally, I examine the parallels of how `progress and knowledge' are viewed within social constructionism and pragmatism. A fuller appreciation of the parallels between pragmatism and social constructionism may lead social constructionists to re-examine the value of James' pragmatism.