Cash Value Metaphor Cotkin

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WILLI M

ILLI M

J MES

AMES

N

ND

C m K I N

OR

EORGE COTKIN

C SH V LUE

ASH VALUE

MET PHOR

ETAPHOR

T

HE

E

CASH-VALUE

ASH-VALUE

METAPHOR

ETAPHOR,

which

hich

figures

igures

so

o

prominently

rominently

in

n

William

illiam

James's

ames's

writings

ritings

on

n

pragmatism,

ragmatism,

has

as

long

ong

been

een

a

source

ource

of

f

contro-

ontro-

versy

ersy

among

mong

philosophers.

hilosophers.

To

o

many

any

the

he

metaphor

etaphor

was

as

typical

ypical

of

f

James's

ames's

highly

ighly

colloquial

olloquial

style

tyle

of

f

exposition.

xposition.

While

hile

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor,

etaphor,

re-

e-

marked

arked

a

writer

riter

in

n

the

he

British

ritish

paper

aper

the

he

pectator

pectator

might

ight

be

e

useful

seful

as

s

a

good

good

rough-and-ready

ough-and-ready

test

est

for

or

the

he

ordinary

rdinary

dogmas

ogmas

of

f

the

he

marketplace;'

arketplace;'

it

t

clearly

learly

had

ad

no

o

proper

roper

standing

tanding

within

ithin

philosophical

hilosophical

discourse.

iscourse.

1)

1)

Marxist

arxist

criticsritics wouldould comeome to fixateixate uponpon thehe metaphoretaphor ass indicativendicative

of

f James'sames's

supposedupposed celebrationelebration

of

f

thehe

crassrass valuesalues

off

thehe marketplacearketplace or

r

ass

proofroof

positiveositive that

hat

Jamesianamesian pragmatismragmatism wasas thehe philosophicalhilosophical expressionxpression off

Americanmerican capitalism.apitalism. (2)2) No

o

contemporaryontemporary reviewereviewer singledingled outut thehe cash-ash-

value

alue

metaphor

etaphor

as

s

a

particularly

articularly

convincing

onvincing

or

r

helpful

elpful

trope.

rope.

To

o

the

he

con-

on-

trary,rary, manyany criticsritics latchedatched ontonto thehe termerm ass paradigmaticaradigmatic off pragmatism'sragmatism's

problems,roblems, bothoth off styletyle andnd content.ontent. Foror instance,nstance, Paulaul Carus, thehe influentialnfluentialarns,

Monist Hibditorditor

of

f thehe Monist andnd Princetonrinceton Universityniversity philosopherhilosopher Johnohn

Gner

ner Hib-

benen analyzednalyzed thehe term

erm

andnd foundound itt wanting.anting. Too Hibbenibben itt suggested,uggested, inn

conhe

he

end,

nd,

something

omething

akin

kin

to

o

the

he

kiting

kiting

of

f

checks

hecks

while

hile

Carus

arus

was

as con-

vinced thathat thehe metaphoretaphor illll suiteduited thehe essencessence

of

f pragmatism.ragmatism. 3)3) Moreore

recentecent philosophershilosophers haveave remainedemained perplexederplexed byy thehe term.erm. A.]..]. Ayeryer hasas

vineed

Of

alledalled thehe cash-valueash-value metaphoretaphor moremore vividivid thanhan precise;'recise;' or, quiteuite simply,imply,

notnot dear.ear. (4)4)

Althoughlthough Jamesames wasas painfullyainfully awareware thathat hisis metaphoretaphor troubledroubled many,any,

he

e

persisted

ersisted

in

n

using

sing

it.

t.

In

n

fact,

act,

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

is

s

ubiquitous

biquitous

in

n

thehe Jamesianamesian corpus,orpus, appearingppearing inn hisis popularopular worksorks qUIteUIte ass

muchuch

as

s

inn

those

hose

intended

ntended

for

or

a

more

ore

philosophically

hilosophically

sophisticated

ophisticated

audience.

udience.

5)

5)

The

he

Georgeeorge

Cotkinotkin

S

Assistantssistant Professorrofessor

of

f

HIstoryIstory

att CaliforOla

Polytechmcolytechmc

Statetate UnIver-nIver-

alifornIa

sity

ity

in

n

Sanan

LUlSUlS

Obispobispo, Califorma.

alifornIa.

37

7


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38

8

Ett ceteraetera SPRINGPRING

1985

985

metaphoretaphor wasas firstirst introduced,ntroduced, andnd remainedemained employedmployed inn similarimilar fashionashion

in

n

later

ater

works,

orks,

in

n

James's

ames's

important

mportant

address

ddress off

1898

898

to

o

the

he

Berkeley

erkeley

Philosophical

hilosophical

Union

nion

on

n

Philosophical

Philosophical

Conceptions

onceptions

and

nd

Practical

ractical

Results;'

esults;'

thehe precursorrecursor too thehe pragmaticragmatic doctrinesoctrines publishedublished inn

Pragmatism

ragmatism

1907).

1907).

Inn the

he

Berkeley

erkeley

address,

ddress,

after

fter

agreeing

greeing

with

ith

thehe English

nglish

empiricists

mpiricists

andnd

Charlesharles Peirceeirce thathat conceptsoncepts mustust bee rigorouslyigorously investigatednvestigated

andnd

defined,efined,

James

ames

then

hen

offered

ffered

a

series

eries

of

f

rhetorical

hetorical

questions

uestions

concerning

oncerning

any

ny

concept.

oncept.

cash.JValue experience?What

What

is

s

its

ts cashJl alue,

in

n

terms

erms

of

f

particular

articular experience?'

Inn essence,

ssence,

what

hat

practical

ractical

difference

ifference to

o

an

n

individual

ndividual

would

ould

a

conception

onception

make

ake

be

e

it

t

true

rue

or

r

false?

alse?

Further

urther

on

n

in

n

the

he

paragraph,

aragraph,

James

ames

again

gain

invoked

nvoked

the

he

metaphor

etaphor

inn hisis discussioniscussion offLockeocke andnd Berkeleyerkeley onn matter.atter.

The

he discussioniscussion

of

fmat-at-

ter

er iss

cleared

leared

up,

p,

that

hat

is

s

rendered

endered

concrete,

oncrete,

James

ames

declared,

eclared,

only

nly

whenhen thethe

sensations;'ash-valueash-value offmatteratter is

s

ourur physicalhysical sensations:'

This

his

is

s howow wee verifyerify matter,atter,

'matter';'nn fact,act, thishis constitutesonstitutes

thethe

wholehole meaningeaning

off

thehe wordord 'matter'. (6)6)

While

hile

the

he

Berkeley

erkeley

address

ddress

and

nd

its

ts

conceptions

onceptions

of

f

the

he

pragmatic

ragmatic

method

ethod

wouldould bee substantiallyubstantially expandedxpanded andnd revisedevised ass Jamesames presentedresented

themhem in

n

a

series

eries off

public

ublic

lectures

ectures

to

o

audiences

udiences

at

t

Chicago,

hicago,

the

he

Lowell

owell

Institute

nstitute

inn Boston,oston, andnd Columbiaolumbia Universityniversity beforeefore finallyinally committingommitting themhem too

printrint and

nd

the

he

history

istory

of

f

philosophy

hilosophy

in

n

Pragmatism,

ragmatism,

the

he

usage

sage

of

f

the

he

cash-

ash-

value

alue

metaphor

etaphor

remained

emained

consistent

onsistent

and

nd

constanL

onstanL 77)

Inn Pragmatism

ragmatism

James

ames

employed

mployed

the

he

metaphor

etaphor

to

o

demonstrate

emonstrate

how

ow

concepts

oncepts

or

r

substances

ubstances

such

uch

as

s

matter

atter

or

r

chalk

halk

mustust be

e

judged

udged

only

nly

according

ccording too

theirheir sole

sole

cash-value

ash-value

foror ourur actualctual experience;'xperience;' 88) Inn thathat volume'solume's crucialrucial

and

nd controversialontroversial

chapter,hapter, Pragmatism'sPragmatism's Conceptiononception

off

Truth;ruth;'

Jamesames echoedchoed hisis Berkeleyerkeley

address

ddress

when

hen

he

e

asked

sked

what,

hat,

in

n

short,

hort,

is

s

a

truth struth's cash-value

ash-value

inn experien-

xperien-

tialial terms?erms? (9)9) Jamesames consideredonsidered thishis passageassage especiallyspecially significant;ignificant; hee

quoted

uoted

it

t

ass effectively

ffectively

summing

umming up

p

the

he

essentials

ssentials

off pragmatism

ragmatism

inn his

is

defenseefense off

the

he doctrineoctrine inn

the

he collectionollection off essays,ssays,

The

he

Meaning

eaning

Truth

ruth

(1909).

1909).

(10)

10)

Itt wasas inn The

he

Meaning

eaning

Truth

ruth

thathat Jamesames attemptedttempted

too

explicitlyxplicitly defendefend

his

is

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

against

gainst

the

he

charges

harges

that

hat

it

t

was

as

inappropriate

nappropriate

for

or

philosophical

hilosophical

discourse

iscourse

andnd too

oo

weak

eak

a

metaphor

etaphor

uponpon which

hich

to

o

deter-

eter-

mineine value.alue.

In

n thehe essay,ssay, TheThe Pragmatistragmatist Accountccount

of

f Truthruth

and

nd itsts

Misunderstanders;'isunderstanders;' (1908)1908) Jamesames especiallyspecially soughtought too dispelispel thehe notionotion thathat

pragmatism

ragmatism

meant

eant

only

nly

action,

ction,

that

hat

ideas

deas

were

ere

true

rue

only

nly

when

hen

they

hey

were

ere

advantage 'apable

apable off

enabling

enabling

us

s

to

o

make

ake

money

oney

or

r

gain

ain

some

ome

'practical'

practical' advantage;'

Thathat conceptsoncepts orr ideasdeas sometimesometimes workedorked inn suchuch afashionashion Jamesames couldould

notot andnd wouldould notot deny,eny, butut hee stronglytrongly maintainedaintained

that

hat thishis narrowarrow appli-ppli-

cation

ation

off pragmatic

ragmatic

ideas

deas

did

id

not

ot

constitute

onstitute

thehe wide

ide

range

ange of

f an

n

idea's

dea's

cash-valueash-value orr utility_tility_ Whilehile admittingdmitting thathat manyany unfortunatelynfortunately soughtought

to

o

weltanschauung,educe

educe

pragmatism

ragmatism

to

o

some

some

sort

ort

of

f

a

rough

ough

and

nd

ready

eady weltanschauung/

Jamesames contendedontended thathat thehe cash-valueash-value of

f

aconcept,oncept, itsts experientialxperiential worth,orth,

couldould bee variableariable

when

hen appliedpplied inn apurelyurely theoreticheoretic sense,ense, onene withoutithout

apparent

pparent

practical'

practical'

bearings.

earings.

Too thehe critic

ritic

who

ho

implored

mplored

James

ames

to

o

cast

ast

out

ut


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39

9

X'ILLIA]v\' JA1\1ES

AND

ND

THE

HE

CASH-VALUE

ASH-VALUE

METAPHOR

ETAPHOR

ILLIAlv\.

J

A \1ES

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

from

rom

his

is

writings

ritings

because

ecause

of

f

its

ts

pecuniary

ecuniary

con-

on-

notations,

otations,

James

ames

responded

esponded

explicitly

xplicitly

only

nly

by

y

reiterating

eiterating

the

he

theoretic

heoretic

no

o

less

ess

than

han

the

he

utilitarian

tilitarian

usefulness

sefulness

of

f

his

is

pragmatic

ragmatic

method

ethod

and

nd

implicitly

mplicitly

byy retainingetaining

thehe

metaphoretaphor throughouthroughout

The

he

\i[eamng

Tmrh.

11)

11)

Nowhere,

owhere,

then,

hen,

did

id

James

ames

really

eally

offer

ffer

either

ither

his

is

critics

ritics

or

r

his

is

supporters

upporters

any

ny

explanation

xplanation

ass

to

o

why

hy

he

e

considered

onsidered

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

particularly

articularly

effective

ffective

in

n

conveying

onveying

the

he

spirit

pirit

and

nd

meaning

eaning

of

f

pragmatism.

ragmatism.

In

n

sum,

um,

one

ne

mightight

inquirenquire

as

s

to

o whyhy thenhen didid Jamesames continue

ontinue

too usese such

uch

aproblematicroblematic

andnd unpopularnpopular metaphoretaphor too explainxplain hisis pragmaticragmatic notionotion off truth?ruth?

Inn evaluatingvaluating thehe cash-valueash-value metaphor,etaphor, Williamilliam Jamesames might

ight

wellell haveave

asked

sked

whether

hether

it

t

worked,

orked,

assimilated

ssimilated

new

ew

knowledge

nowledge

into

nto

one's

ne's

previous

revious

stocktock

off

truths,ruths, andnd satisfiedatisfied ourur desireesire foror intellectualntellectual clarity,larity, simplicity,implicity,

andnd beauty.eauty.

Inn

spitepite off someome trenchantrenchant criticismsriticisms off thehe term,erm, especiallyspecially

withith regardegard to

o

itsts lackack

of

f

claritylarity

andnd

inabilitynability too workork onn anyny levelevel

otherther

thanhan

thehe

mundaneundane rough

rough andnd

readyeady world,orld, thishis essay'sssay's thesishesis willill bee that

hat

firstly

irstly

the

he

metaphor

etaphor

was

as

quite

uite

appropriate

ppropriate

within

ithin

the

he

context

ontext

of

f

James's

ames's

theoryheory off pragmatism.ragmatism. Whilehile certainlyertainly typicalypical off thehe colloquialolloquial languageanguage

that

hat

James

ames

loved

oved

to

o

playfully

layfully

employ,

mploy,

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

figured

igured

cen-

en-

trally

rally

because

ecause

it

t

worked,

orked,

the

he

sine

ine

qua

ua

non

on

of

f

the

he

pragmatic

ragmatic

temper.

emper.

Secondly,

econdly,

the

he

metaphor,

etaphor,

it

t

will

ill

be

e

argued,

rgued,

had

ad

a

deep,

eep,

personal

ersonal

resonance

esonance

to

o

James.

ames.

t

served

erved

to

o

link

ink

his

is

personal

ersonal

financial

inancial

problems

roblems

with

ith

the

he

cash

ash

realities

ealities

in-

n-

A1eamng TrUth.

of lecturingerenterent inn thehe formatormat oflecturing that

hat

hee usedsed too testest andnd presentresent hisis ideasdeas

as

s

wellell as

s

to

o

help

elp supportupport

himselfimself andnd hisis family.amily.

Att firstirst glance,lance, James'sames's explanationxplanation

off

thehe

meaningeaning

of

f

truthruth

withith thehe

metaphoricaletaphorical structuretructure off cash-valueash-value appears,ppears, ass hisis criticsritics claimed,laimed, too bee

grievous

rievous

error,

rror,

especially

specially

when

hen

evaluated

valuated

within

ithin

the

he

stock

tock

of

f

values

alues

associated

ssociated

with

ith

the

he

term

erm

from

rom

American

merican

thought.

hought.

The

he

views

iews

of

f

American

merican

intellec-

ntellec-

tualsuals towardsowards thehe marketplacearketplace andnd itsts valuesalues were,ere, att best,est, redolentedolent withith

ambivalence.

mbivalence.

When

hen

Emerson

merson

spoke

poke

of

f

commerce,

ommerce,

for

or

example,

xample,

he

e

sometimes

ometimes

celebrated

elebrated

it

t

as

s

a

kind

ind

of

f

transnational

ransnational

experience,

xperience,

in

n

which

hich

barriers

arriers

were

ere

knocked

nocked

down

own

and

nd

the

he

world

orld

brought

rought

closer

loser

together.

ogether.

At

t

the

he

same

ame

time

ime

Emerson,merson, whilehile admittingdmitting thathat thehe wingsings off commerceommerce gaveave

to

o allll nationsations

and

nd

individuals

ndividuals

a

common

ommon

language,

anguage,

a

new

ew

argot,

rgot,

to

o

his

is

mind,

ind,

the

he

business

usiness

enterprise

nterprise

was

as

sullied

ullied

with

ith

the

he

stench

tench

of

f

materialism

aterialism

and

nd

lowly

owly

desires

esires

for

or

gain.

ain.

Emerson

merson

commonly

ommonly

invoked

nvoked

terms

erms

such

uch

as

s

market-value

arket-value

in

n

a

pejora-

ejora-

tiveive

or

r satiricalatirical sense,ense, oncence goingoing soo farar as

s

to

o

writerite

thathat CommerceCommerce

1Ss a

Cannibalism.arioloidarioloid

off

Cannibalism:' (12)12) Foror Emerson,

merson,

noo lessess than

han

foror Henryenry Davidavid

Thoreau

horeau

and

nd

especially

specially

for

or

Herman

erman

Melville

elville

in

n

The

he

Confidence

onfidence Man

the

he

marketplacearketplace wasas hardlyardly the

he

siteite wherehere cash-valueash-value foror one'sne's waresares couldould bee

easilyasily securedecured orr worthorth establishedstablished onn afirmirm foundation.oundation. Cash-valuesash-values wereere

illusions,

llusions,

part

art

of

f

the

he

shady

hady

dominion

ominion

of

f

the

he

confidence

onfidence

man

an

who

ho

figured

igured

so

o

prominently

rominently

in

n

American

merican

thought

hought

and

nd

literature

iterature

in

n

this

his

period.

eriod.

(13)

13)

Jamesames

thushus

appears,ppears,

onn

thehe surface,urface,

to

o

haveave

used

sed

atermerm

that

hat

hadad alongong

associationssociation withith deceit,eceit, masquerades,asquerades,

and

nd falsity;alsity; hee seeminglyeemingly basedased hisis

Man


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tt ceteraetera

SPRING

PRING

1985985

systemystem foror thehe verificationerification andnd validationalidation off conceptsoncepts uponpon ametaphoricaletaphorical

traditionradition whichhich was,as,

to

o sayay thehe least,east, shaky.haky. Moreover,oreover, Jamesames wasas apoliticalolitical

mugwump

ugwump

someone

omeone

who

ho

personally

ersonally

disdained

isdained

the

he

values

alues

of

f

modern

odern

capitalist

apitalist

culture

ulture

and

nd

who

ho

certainly

ertainly

placed

laced

little

ittle

faith

aith

in

n

the

he

market

arket

economy.conomy. (14)14) But,ut,

as

s Karenaren

Halttunen

alttunen hasas indicated,ndicated, thishis pejorativeejorative tradi-radi-

tion

ion

was

as

on

n

the

he

wane

ane

by

y

the

he

last

ast

third

hird

of

f

the

he

nineteenth

ineteenth

century,

entury,

the

he

con-

on-

trast

rast

between

etween

character

haracter

and

nd

capitalism

apitalism

with

ith

its

ts

attendant

ttendant

anguish

nguish

and

nd

uncer-

ncer-

tainty

ainty

had

ad

passed.

assed.

(15)

15)

Inn

its

ts

stead

tead

was

as

another

nother

image

mage

for

or

the

he

marketplace

arketplace

and

nd

capitalism.

apitalism.

In

n

the

he

cult

ult

of

f

the

he

self-made

elf-made

man,

an,

or

r

the

he

popularity

opularity

of

f

Andrew

ndrew

Carnegie

arnegie

as

s

a

cultural

ultural

figure,

igure,

the

he

capitalist-as-hero

apitalist-as-hero

inhabited

nhabited

a

ground

round

that

hat

whilehile stilltill saturatedaturated withith thehe tricksricks of

f

thehe confidenceonfidence manan nowow alsolso ap-p-

peared

eared

to

o

be

e

someone

omeone

who

ho

had

ad

built

uilt

an

n

empire

mpire

based

ased

upon

pon

substantial

ubstantial

foun-

oun-

dations,

ations,

putting

utting

his

is

product

roduct

up

p

against

gainst

the

he

wares

ares

of

f

others

thers

in

n

the

he

chang-

hang-

ing

ng

conditions

onditions

off

the

he

market,

arket,

and

nd

finally

inally

by

y

producing

roducing

a

good

ood

that

hat

paid

paid

inn acash-valueash-value economy.conomy.

Thus

hus

mayay onene surmiseurmise thathat att thehe timeime Jamesames

wasas employing

mploying

his

is

cash-value

ash-value

metaphoretaphor the

he

term

erm

was

as suspended

uspended

inn

two

wo

worlds

orlds off

meaning,

eaning,

one

ne

suggesting

uggesting

an

n

ephemeracy

phemeracy off

value,

alue,

the

he

other

ther

point-

oint-

ing

ng

towards

owards

a

durability

urability

and

nd

real

eal

worth.

orth.

For

or

James,

ames,

a

master

aster

ironist,

ronist,

the

he

dualual connotationsonnotations of

f

cash-valueash-value wouldould proverove bothoth aestheticallyesthetically appealingppealing

andnd usefulseful

in

n

thehe elucidationlucidation

of

f

pragmaticragmatic assumptions.ssumptions.

The

he

tension

ension

inherent

nherent

in

n

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

by

y

the

he

turn

urn

of

f

the

he

cen-

en-

tury

ury

was

as

well

ell

suited

uited

to

James s

ames's

pragmatic

ragmatic

maxims,

axims,

although

lthough

his

is

critics

ritics

failed

ailed

to

o

realize

ealize

it.

t.

With

ith

cash-value,

ash-value,

James

ames

hadad

a

metaphor

etaphor

that

hat

did

id

not

ot

suggest

uggest

something

omething

with

ith

immutable

mmutable

value,

alue,

inherent

nherent

worth;

orth;

yet,

et,

at

t

the

he

same

ame

time,

ime,

the

he

term

erm

was

as

never

ever

devoid

evoid

of

f

value;

alue;

every

very

concept

oncept

or

r

idea

dea

had

ad

a

theoretical

heoretical

worth

orth

untilntil

put

ut

to

o

the

he

test,

est,

and

nd

in

n

a

specified

pecified

situation.

ituation.

James s

ames's

chief

hief

an-

n-

tagonists

agonists

over

ver

the

he

metaphor,

etaphor,

Hibben

ibben

and

nd

Carus,

arus,

were

ere

incapable

ncapable

off

discern-

iscern-

ing

ng

the

he

double-edge

ouble-edge

of

f

truth

ruth

of

f

accepting

ccepting

that

hat

the

he

metaphor

etaphor

allowed

llowed

James

ames

too emphasize

mphasize

that

hat

ideas

deas

and

nd

concepts

oncepts

did

id

not

ot

have

ave

truthruth within

ithin

them

hem

ass

ann innatennate qualityuality

of

f

being.eing. Thehe worthorth orr cash-valueash-value

of

f anyny concept,oncept,

as

s Jamesames

oftenften timesimes repeated,epeated, wasas inn howow thehe conceptoncept helpedelped thehe individualndividual

to

o cope,ope,

how

ow

it

t

aided

ided

the

he

individual

ndividual

in

n

his

is

or

r

her

er

actual,

ctual,

practical,

ractical,

and

nd

concrete

oncrete

experiences.

xperiences. Inn

one

ne

sense,

ense,

then,

hen,

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

of

f

any

ny

concept

oncept

was

as

com-

om-

puted

uted

or

r

validated

alidated

according

ccording

to

o

the

he

personal

ersonal

financial

inancial

system

ystem

off

the

he

indi-

ndi-

vidual.

idual.

As

s

a

philosophical

hilosophical

position,

osition,

this

his

of

f courseourse drewrew

the

he fireire off manyany

who

ho

could

ould

not

ot

see

ee

or

r

did

id

not

ot

want

ant

to

o

see

ee

truths

ruths

as

s

individually

ndividually

validated

alidated

without

ithout

any

ny

other

ther

criteria

riteria

for

or

value;

alue;

nonetheless,

onetheless,

the

he metaphoretaphor

did

id

effec-

ffec-

tively

ively

serve

erve

to

o

illustrate

llustrate

James s

ames's

meaning

eaning

off

truth.

ruth.

Inn

a

second

econd

sense,

ense,

however,

owever,

James

ames

contended

ontended

that

hat

this

his

personal

ersonal

experience,

xperience,

its

ts

pay-off,

ay-off,

was

as

also

lso

a

social

ocial

or

r

community

ommunity

experience.

xperience.

Again,

gain,

since

ince

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

of

f

any

ny

concept

oncept

or

r

idea

dea

did

id

not

ot

solely

olely

reside

eside

in

n

any

ny

innate

nnate

qualities

ualities

of

f

the

he

entity

ntity

nor

or

in

n

the

he

simpleimple subjectiveubjective currencyurrency

of

f thehe individual,ndividual, itt alsolso

had

ad too answernswer too thehe

marketplace

arketplace

of

f

ideas,

deas,

the

he

larger

arger

network

etwork

of

f

financial

inancial

transactions

ransactions

and

nd

obliga-

bliga-

tions.

ions.

To

o

be

e

sure,

ure,

the

he

marketplace

arketplace

remained

emained

a

denizen

enizen

for

or

deceit,

eceit,

butut

it

t


5/10

41

1

ILLIAM

ILLIAM

JAMES

AMES

AND

ND

THE

HE

CASH-VALUE

ASH-VALUE

METAPHORETAPHOR

was

as

also

lso

an

n

arena

rena

where

here

buyers

uyers

and

nd

sellers

ellers

spoke

poke

a

similar

imilar

language,

anguage,

and

nd

where

here

the

he

testing

esting

out

ut of

f

hypotheses

ypotheses

and

nd

their

heir

evaluation

valuation

and

nd

revision

evision

oc-

c-

curred.

urred.

In

n

this

his

sense,

ense,

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

of

f

any

ny

concept

oncept

orr idea

dea

became

ecame

pan

an

experience-thoughff

asocialocial experience - though Jamesames didid notot emphasizemphasize communityommunity verifica-erifica-

tion

ion ass

strongly

trongly

as

s

Charles

harles

Peirce

eirce -where

where

the

he

cash-value

ash-value of

f

the

he

individual s

ndividual's

perceptions

erceptions

became

ecame

a

worthy

orthy

figure

igure

for

or

negotiation.

egotiation.

Through

hrough

such

uch

negotia-

egotia-

tions

ions

one

ne

could

ould

live

ive

up

p

to

o their

heir

general

eneral

obligation

bligation

too seek

eek truth,ruth,

not

ot

only

nly

for

or some

ome

abstract

bstract

satisfaction,

atisfaction, bur

because

ecause

true

rue

ideas

deas

would

ould

bring

ring

payments,

ayments,

whereas

hereas

false

alse

ideas

deas

would,

ould,

in

n

the

he

end,

nd,

register

egister

only

nly

in

n

debits.

ebits.

(16)

16)

To

o

add

dd

to

o

our

ur

certainty

ertainty

concerning

oncerning

the

he

truthruth value

alue off

our

ur

concepts,

oncepts,

James

ames

regularly

egularly

but

e.xpediencyonnected

onnected

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

or

r expediency

and

nd

utility

tility

of

f

his

is

own

wn

concepts

oncepts

to

o

what

hat

he

e

referred

eferred

to

o

as

s

the

he

marketplace.

marketplace.

James

ames

presented

resented

his

is

ideas

deas

and

nd

concepts,

oncepts,

whose

hose

cash-value

ash-value

was

as

real

eal

to

o

him,

im,

in

n

the

he

marketplace

arketplace

not

ot

only

nly

ass

agiftift

orr

offering,ffering,

butut

alsolso foror thehe veryery realeal returnseturns thathat hee wouldould gainain

from

rom

the

he

criticism

riticism

and

nd

debate.

ebate.

(17)

17)

The

he

metaphor

etaphor

of

f

cash-value

ash-value

also

lso

proved

roved

useful,

seful,

as

s

Jacques

acques

Barzun

arzun

has

as

recently

ecently

demonstrated,

emonstrated, when

hen

James

ames

sought

ought too

identify

dentify

the

he

use

se off

an

n

idea

dea

with

ith

the

he

nature

ature

of

f

a

loan,

oan,

or

r

promissory

romissory

note.

ote.

Thehe note

ote

is

s

worthless

orthless

when

hen

itt cannotannot bee convertedonverted intonto cash,ash, noo valuealue

inherts

nherts inn

the

he noteote ass such.uch. Soo

too

oo

with

ith

James s

ames's

emphasis

mphasis

on

n

cash-value

ash-value

to

to

express;

xpress;' as

s

Barzun

arzun

phrases

hrases

it,

t, the

the

fact

act

that

hat

an

n

idea

dea is

s

worthless

orthless

if

f

it

t

cannot

annot

sooner

ooner

or

r

later

ater

be

e

con-

on-

verted

erted

into

nto

the

he

concreteness

oncreteness

aimed

imed

at:

t:'

18)

18)

Truth

ruth

in

n

his

is

view

iew

was

as

something

omething

that

hat

only

nly

became

ecame

apparent

pparent as

s

the

he

intellectual

ntellectual

coin

oin

of

f

the

he

realm

ealm

was

as

placed

laced

intonto circulation.irculation.

Whilehile

thishis conceptoncept troubledroubled

Carusarus andnd thushus

initiatednitiated hisis

attack

ttack

upon

pon

the

he

metaphor,

etaphor,

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

trope

rope

did

id

express,

xpress,

in

n

accessible

ccessible

terms,

erms,

two

wo

crucial

rucial

concepts

oncepts

of

f

the

he

pragmatic

ragmatic

method

ethod

and

nd

meaning

eaning

off truth:

ruth:

that

hat

qualities

ualities

were

ere

not

ot

abstract

bstract

or

r

innate

nnate

and

nd

that

hat

the

he

determination

etermination

of

f

worth

orth

wasas

measured

easured

in

n

terms

erms

of

f

experiences

xperiences

and

nd

practical

ractical

application.

pplication.

The

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

worked

orked

because

ecause

it

t

captured

aptured

the

he

tension

ension

and

nd

duality

uality

upon

pon

which

hich

James

ames

sought

ought to

o

base

ase

his

is

theory

heory off

truth.

ruth.

From

rom

a

pragmatic

ragmatic

perspective,

erspective,

however,

owever,

an

n

additional

dditional

consideration

onsideration

might

ight

be

e

evaluated:

valuated:

to

o

what

hat

needs

eeds

and

nd

desires

esires

within

ithin

James

ames

did

id

the

he

metaphor

etaphor

satisfy

atisfy

or

r

respond

espond

to?

o? Thehe

answer

nswer

to

o

this

his

question

uestion

may

ay

lie

ie

in

n

the

he

nexus

exus

of

f

James s

ames's

personalersonal lifeife andnd thehe demandsemands thathat hee encounteredncountered

as

s

aprofessionalrofessional lee

turer

urer

who

ho

was

as

paid

aid

for

or

his

is

labors.

abors.

Throughout

hroughout

the

he

period

eriod

when

hen

James

ames

was

as

lecturing

ecturing

on

n

pragmatism,

ragmatism,

he

e

was

as

troubled

roubled

by

y

financial

inancial

problems,

roblems,

in

n

part

art

because

ecause

of

f

his

is

growing

rowing

family,

amily,

generosity

enerosity

with

ith

money,

oney,

and

nd

frequent

requent

sojourns

ojourns

in

n

Europe.

urope.

To

o

supplement

upplement

his

is

professorial

rofessorial

income

ncome

from

rom

Harvard

arvard

and

nd

his

is

meagre

eagre

trust

rust

funds,

unds,

James

ames

was

as

forced

orced too

take

ake

his

is

philosophy

hilosophy

on

n

the

he

road,

oad,

not

ot

only

nly

delivering

elivering

his

is lks

alks

to

o e cherseachers

and

nd

other

ther

occasional

ccasional

pieces

ieces

for

or

pay,

ay,

but

ut

accepting,

ccepting,

at

t

times,

imes,

payment

ayment

for

or

lectures

ectures

on

n

pragmatism.

ragmatism.

The

he

production

roduction

and

nd

presentation

resentation

of

f

pragmatism

ragmatism

was

as

inexorably

nexorably

linked

inked

to

o

the

he

marketplace

arketplace

of

f

ideas,

deas,

the

he

arena

rena

where

here

James

ames

the

he

seller

eller

literally

iterally

presented

resented

his

is

intellectual

ntellectual

wares.

ares.

Thus

hus

when

hen

lec-


6/10

4

2

Et

t

cetera

etera

SPRING

PRING

1985

985

corneames

ames

invokes

nvokes

the

he

term

erm

cash-value

ash-value

within

ithin

his

is

discourse,

iscourse,

it

t

appears

ppears

to

o come

from

rom

the

he

heart

eart

and

nd

is,

s,

in

n

some

ome

respects

espects

perhaps,

erhaps,

a

psychic

sychic

cry

ry

of

f

despair

espair

emanating

manating

from

rom

a

proud

roud

man

an

who

ho

faced

aced

each

ach

public

ublic

lecture

ecture

with

ith

anguish

nguish

and

nd dread.read. Too viewiew Williamilliam Jamesames andnd thehe productionroduction

and

nd presentationresentation

off

pragmatism

ragmatism

ss

connected

onnected too

the

he

marketplace

arketplace

and

nd

intimately

ntimately

linked

inked

to

o

cash-value

ash-value

should

hould

in

n

no

o

w y

ay

denigrate

enigrate

the

he

achievement,

chievement,

nor

or

sully

ully

the

he

value

alue

and

nd

purity

urity

of

f

the

he

philosophy

hilosophy

produced.

roduced.

What

hat

it

t

may

ay

do

o

is

s

explain

xplain

James s

ames's

recourse

ecourse

to

o

the

he

cash-value

ash-value

metaphor

etaphor

just

ust

s

s

Leon

eon

Edel

del

has

as

helped

elped

to

o

con-

on-

structtruct

Henry

enry James sames's lifeife

and

nd literaryiterary productionroduction byy demonstratingemonstrating howow

thehe writerriter w sas forcedorced too practiceractice hisis craftraft foror aliving.iving. (19)19)

A

biographer

iographer

of

f

William

illiam

James

ames

has

as

written

ritten

that

hat

the

he

philosopher

hilosopher

had

ad

the

he

dreamream of

f

becomingecoming someome dayay agentlemanentleman farmer,armer, freeree fromrom financialinancial obliga-bliga-

tionsions andnd thehe rigorsigors off teaching,eaching, butut thathat financialinancial exigencyxigency preventedrevented thehe

realization

ealization

of

f

this

his

desire.

esire.

James

ames

w s

as

not

ot

poorly

oorly

paid

aid

s

s

a

Harvard

arvard

professor,

rofessor,

but

ut

the

he

funds

unds

were

ere

inadequate

nadequate

for

or

him

im

and

nd

his

is

family.

amily.

By

y

the

he

1880s

880s

he

e

hadad discoverediscovered additionaldditional sourcesources

of

f

income,ncome, sendingending

off

ff chaptershapters

of

f thehe

long-in-preparation

ong-in-preparation

rinciples

rinciples

sychology

sychology

to

o

paying

aying

journals

ournals

and

nd

com-

om-

posing

osing

a

shorter,

horter,

better

etter

selling

elling

version

ersion

of

f

the

he

monumental

onumental

volume.

olume.

(20)

20)

In

n

thehe 1890s890s whenhen James sames's reputationeputation hadad flowered,lowered, hee foundound himself

imself

inn

lecturesonstantonstant demandemand s

s

apublicublic lecturer.ecturer. Armed

rmed

withith aserieseries of

f

1ectures-

Talks

ometimes

ometimes

his

is

a lks

to

o

Teachers

eachers

at

t

other

ther

times

imes

enticing

nticing

lectures

ectures

on

n

excep-

xcep-

tional

ional

mental

ental

phenomena

henomena

or

r

pragmatism James

ragmatism-James

crisscrossed

risscrossed

the

he

country

ountry

gathering

athering

in

n

money,

oney,

estimating

stimating

the

he

size

ize

of

f

his

is

audiences,

udiences,

and

nd

evaluating

valuating

the

he

quality

uality

and

nd

reception

eception

off

his

is

lectures.

ectures.

(21)

21)

Publicublic lecturesectures attestedttested too thehe cash-valueash-value of

f

James sames's ideas;deas; theyhey broughtrought

into

nto

the

he

family

amily

bank

ank

account

ccount

impressive

mpressive

and

nd

needed

eeded

sums

ums

of

f

money.

oney.

The

he

allure

llure

of

f

the

he

revenues

evenues

was

as

sometimes

ometimes

so

o

great

reat

as

s

to

o

force

orce

James

ames

to

o

give

ive

up

p

his

is much

uch loved

oved summer

ummer vacations

acations

at

t

Chocorua

hocorua

to

o

make

ake

money,

oney,

as

s

he

e

put

ut

it,

t,

by

y

lecturing

ecturing too

boring

oring

high

igh

school

chool

teachers

eachers

on

n

psychology.

sychology.

(22)

22)

James

ames

hated

ated

the

he

public

ublic

lecture

ecture

forum

orum

- although

lthough

it

t

mustust be

e

admitted

dmitted

thathat in

n

the

he

lastast few

ew

yearsears

off

hisis lifeife hee feltelt moreore confidentonfident aboutbout hisis lecturingecturing abilities,bilities,

greater

reater

rapport

apport

with

ith

audiences,

udiences,

and

nd

began

egan

to

o

enjoy

njoy

basking

asking

in

n

the

he

sunshine

unshine

of

f

their

heir

adulation

dulation

for

or

him

im

- to

o

the

he

point

oint

of

f

referring

eferring

to

o

lecturing

ecturing

as

s a

sort

ort

off

prostitution:

rostitution:'

(23)

23)

He

e

w sas

selling

elling

his

is

ideas

deas foror

money

oney

and

nd

in

n

a

w y

ay

chasing

hasing

after

fter

the

he

hated

ated

bitch-goddess

bitch-goddess

success:

uccess:'

Moreover,

oreover,

the

he

time

ime

he

e

spent

pent

in

n

the

he

preparationreparation andnd presentationresentation

of

f thesehese publicublic lecturesectures s

s

wellell s

s

thehe inter-nter-

minable

inable

social

ocial

gatherings

atherings

connected

onnected

with

ith

them

hem

led

ed

to

o

great

reat

frustration

rustration

for

or

James;mes; lecturingecturing foror moneyoney wasas a

bad

ad w yay

of

f expendingxpending energy;nergy;' especial-special-

lyy

when

hen hee feltelt thathat hee couldould betteretter spendpend hisis timeime workingorking onn hisis long-ong-

delayed

elayed

philosophical

hilosophical

opus.

pus.

(24)

24)

After

fter

the

he

completion

ompletion

of

f

each

ach

lecture

ecture

series

eries

Jamesmes wouldould explain,xplain, and

nd

hisis avowalsvowals lastedasted foror aperioderiod

off

nearlyearly tenen years,ears,

that

hat

he

e

was

as

forsaking

orsaking

the

he

public

ublic

lecture

ecture

podium

odium

once

nce

and

nd

for

or

all.

ll.

Thus

hus

inn 1898898 hee wroterote

too

hisis wife,ife, II amm

neverever

goingoing too lectureecture againgain outside.utside.

according-

hat

hat

decision

ecision

is

s

a

fixed

ixed

point;

oint;

andnd

we

e

shall

hall

shape

hape

our

ur

expenses

xpenses according-


7/10

WILLIAM

ILLIAM

]Alv\.ES

AND

ND

THE

HE

CASH-VALUE

ASH-VALUE

METAPHOR

ETAPHOR

A..lv \.ES

43

3

ly.

(25)

25)

Five

ive

years

ears

later

ater

he

e

swore

wore

to

o

his

is

wife,

ife,

that

hat

there

here

vlould

lould

be

e

no

no

more

ore

miscellaneous

iscellaneous

lectures

ectures

for

or

me;

e;

thank

hank

you.

ou.

(26)

26)

Finally,

inally,

in

n

remarking

emarking

on

n

ly:'

his

is

Columbia

olumbia

University

niversity

lectures

ectures

on

n

pragmatism

ragmatism

in

n

1907,

907,

James

ames

wrote

rote t

his

is

son

on

that

hat

he

e

would

ould

risk

isk

the

he

strain

train

of

f

delivering

elivering

his

is

addresses

ddresses

only

nly

because

ecause

they

hey

represented

epresented

the

the

last

ast

lecture

ecture

engagement

ngagement

of

f

my

y

life.

ife.

(27)

27)

The

he

summer

ummer

of

f

1898

898

saw

aw

William

illiam

James

ames

in

n

California

alifornia

delivering

elivering

his

is

Talks

alks

to

o

Teachers

eachers

in

n

Oakland,

akland,

after

fter

presenting

resenting

them

hem

first

irst

in

n

Salt

alt

Lake

ake

City,

ity,

and

nd

his

is

Philosophical

Philosophical

Conceptions

onceptions

and

nd

Practical

ractical

Results

esults

to

o

the

he

Philosophical

hilosophical

Union

nion

at

t

Berkeley.

erkeley.

James

ames

had

ad

long

ong

wanted

anted

to

o

visit

isit

the

he

West

est

Coast

oast

but

ut

he

e

could

ould

not

ot

readily

eadily

afford

fford

the

he

trip.

rip.

In

n

a

correspondence

orrespondence

with

ith

George

eorge

Holmes

olmes

Howison,

owison,

philosophy

hilosophy

professor

rofessor

at

t

Berkeley,

erkeley,

that

hat

continued

ontinued

for

or

two

wo

years,

ears,

James

ames

negotiated

egotiated

and

nd

bargained

argained

over

ver

fees,

ees,

arrangements,

rrangements,

and

nd

dates

ates

for

or

the

he

public

ublic

lectures

ectures

that

hat

would

ould

finance

inance

the

he

e.xcursion.

.xcursion.

In

n

no

o

uncertain

ncertain

terms

erms

he

e

wrote

rote

Howison,

owison,

AsAs for

or

ourur

'business;

business;

1000

000

dollars

ollars

for

or

sixteen

ixteen

lectures

ectures

at

t

the

he

U.

.

of

f

Call

all

two

wo

courses

ourses

of

f

eight,

ight,

one

ne

on

n

Psychology

sychology

for

or

Teachers

eachers

and

nd

on

n

Exceptional

xceptional

Mental

ental

Phenomena

henomena

will

ill

cover

over

all

ll

my

y

demands,

emands,

work:' Howison

owison

that

hat

he

e

ro

both

oth

for

or

cash

ash

and

nd

for

or work.

But

ut

James

ames

made

ade

clear

lear

to

lectured

ectured

only

nly

for

or

the

he

money

oney

and

nd

gave

ave

only

nly

as

s

many

any

addresses

ddresses

as

s

necessary:

ecessary:

I

I

hate

ate

lecturing,

ecturing,

on

n

the

he whole:'

(28)

28)

Subsequent

ubsequent

letters

etters

to

o

Howison

owison

read

ead

like

ike

advertisements

dvertisements

as

s

James

ames

sets

ets

out

ut

his

is

terms,

erms,

describes

escribes

the

he

contents

ontents

of

f

the

he

lectures,

ectures,

and

nd

specifies

pecifies

the

he

attractiveness

ttractiveness

of

f

each

ach

lecture

ecture

series

eries

for

or

par-

ar-

ticular

icular

audiences.

udiences.

While

hile

always

lways

seeking

eeking

to

o

limit

imit

his

is

lecturing,

ecturing,

James

ames

nonetheless

onetheless

let

et

it

t

be

e

known

nown

that

hat

if

f

Berkeley

erkeley

would

ould

pay

ay

him

im

fifty

ifty

dollars

ollars

apiece

piece

for

or

each

ach

lecture,

ecture,

of

of

course

ourse

I

shouldhould

not

ot

refuse

efuse

more

ore

if

it

t

were

ere

urged

rged

upon:

pon:'

(29)

29)

PhilosophicalPhilosophical

Conceptions

onceptions andnd Practicalractical Results;'esults;' wherehere Jamesames firstirst

employedmployed cash-valueash-value ass

the

he metaphoretaphor

which

hich servederved ass thehe foundationoundation foror

the

he

pragmatic

ragmatic

method

ethod

was

as

thus

hus

inexorably

nexorably

connected

onnected

with

ith

the

he

reality

eality

of

f

whole.

fees

ees

and

nd

public

ublic

lectures.

ectures.

That

hat

James

ames

sought

ought to

divorce

ivorce

the

he

two,

wo,

hIS

pure

pure

o hiS

philosophy

hilosophy

of

f

pragmatism

ragmatism

and

nd

his

is

cash

cash

philosophy

hilosophy contaIned

in

n

the

he

Talks

alks

to

o

Teachers

eachers,

was

as

apparent

pparent

as

s

he

e

sternly

ternly

informed

nformed

Howison

owison

that

hat

he

e

would

ould

conta1l1ed

give

ive

the

he

talk

alk

on

n

the

he

pragmatic

ragmatic

method

ethod

to

o

the

he Union

only

nly

as

s

a

free

free gIft.

After

fter

completing

ompleting

his

is

paid

aid

lectures,

ectures,

giving

iving

a

free

ree

lecture

ecture

on

n

pragmatism,

ragmatism,

and

nd

receiving

eceiving

strenuous

trenuous

criticism

riticism

from

rom

Howison

owison

and

nd

hIS

IS

students,

tudents,

James

ames

asked

sked

only

nly thathat

his

is

remains

remains

be

e

gathered

athered up

p and

nd

sent

ent

home

ome

by

y

freIght

reIght

U nion gift.

remains- my

oo

my

y

wife

ife

with

ith

what

hat

money

oney

remains-my pocket

ocket

from

rom

the

he

experience.

xperience.

(30)

30)

Short

hort

would

ould

be

e

the

he

verbal

erbal

distance

istance

traveled

raveled

from

rom

this

his

humorous

umorous

epithet

pithet

to

o

James's

ames's

asking

sking

in

n

his

is

first

irst sustamed

analysis

nalysis

of

f

the

he

pragmatic

ragmatic

method

ethod

cash J{ a lue inn termserms of

f

particulararticular

susta1l1ed

thathat onene should

hould

knownow aconception'sonception's cash-value,

experience:'xperience:' (31)31)

Thehe cash-valueash-value

metaphor

etaphor remainedemained inn successiveuccessive draftsrafts off r gm llsmragmallsm

andnd becameecame etchedtched foreverorever inn thehe printedrinted volume.olume. Duringuring thehe yearsears of

f

Pragmallsm's

ragmallsm's

final

inal

elucidation,

lucidation,

1906-1907,

906-1907,

James

ames

delivered

elivered

lectures

ectures

on

n

the

he

subject,

ubject,

sometimes

ometimes

for

or

excellent

xcellent

fees,

ees,

at

t

Glenmore,

lenmore,

Chicago,

hicago,

the

he

Lowell

owell


8/10

44

4

Et

t

cetera

etera

SPRING

PRING 1985

985

Institute,

nstitute,

and

nd

Columbia

olumbia

University.

niversity.

The

he

cash-value

ash-value

of

f

these

hese

lectures

ectures

on

n

pragmatism

ragmatism

was

as

never,

ever,

therefore,

herefore,

distant

istant

from

rom

James's

ames's

mind.

ind.

By

y

this

his

time,

ime,

but

genuine-thehe

he

Jamesian

amesian

refrain

efrain

was

as

old

ld bur

still

till genuine - the

frustrations

rustrations

of

f

public

ublic

lectures

ectures

and

nd

the

he

glare

lare

cast

ast

uponpon the

he

philosopher

hilosopher ass

paid

aid

lecturer.

ecturer.

Thehe feel-

eel-

ingsngs must

ust

haveave beeneen mixed,ixed, somewhatomewhat likeike thehe metaphoretaphor itself,tself, as

s

Jamesames

accumulatedat

at

at

t

his

is

desk

esk

and

nd

wrote

rote

out

ut

checks

hecks

covering

overing

his

is


9/10

45

5

ILLIAM

ILLIAM jAlviESAlviES ANDND THEHE CASH-VALUEASH-VALUE

METAPHOR

ETAPHOR

and

nd

VIewsIews may

ay

be

e

found

ound

m

Damelamel

B.

.

SchIrmer,

chIrmer,

\Vilham

\Vilham

James

ames

and

nd

the

he

New

ew

Age;'

ge;'

Selenaelena

and

nd SOClelYOClelY

33

3

(Fa

Fa

ll-\X'inte

l-\X'inte 1',',

1969),

969),

pp.

p.

434-45.

34-45.

3.

.

Paulaul

Carus,arus,

Pragmatism;

Pragmatism;'

The

he

Monisr

onisr

188 (July,July, 1908),908), pp.p. 321-62;21-62; Fundamental

undamental

Pro-

ro-

blems

lems

(Chicago:Chicago: Thehe Open

pen

Court,

ourt,

1891),891), pp.p. 17-18.7-18. John

ohn

Grierrier Hibben,

ibben,

The

The

Testest

off

Pragmatism;'

ragmatism;' Philosophtcalhilosophtcal RevIewevIew

17

7

(July,

July,

1908),

908),

pp.

p.

365-82.

65-82.

4

AyeI',yeI',

Philosophyhilosophy inn

rhehe

Twenl elhwenl elh Centuryentury

(London:London:

\X1eidenfelX1eidenfel

andnd Nicholson,icholson, 1982),982),

pp.p. 74-754-75

5.

. Beverly

everly

Lawn

awn

enumerates

numerates

the

he

uses

ses

off the

he

metaphor

etaphor

and

nd

others

thers

with

ith

busll1ess

usll1ess

connotatIons

onnotatIons

as

s

used

sed

by

y

James.

ames.

She

he

baSiCallyaSiCally

V1ews1ews

the

he

metaphor

etaphor

as

s

a

rheroncal

heroncal

deVIceeVIce

too joinoin Jamesames and

nd

hisis audience.udience. This

his

essay,ssay, however,owever, suggestsuggests adifferentifferent theSISheSIS andnd

Importmport foror thehe metaphor.etaphor. See,ee, Beverlyeverly Lawn,awn, From

From

Templeemple too Streets:treets: Thehe Styletyle

of

fPragmaragma lISm,ISm,"

New

ew Englandngland Quarrerlyuarrerly

45

5

(Dec.,

Dec.,

1972),

972),

pp.

p.

526-40.

26-40.

Thehe

metaphoretaphor

appeared

ppeared

also

lso

in:

n:

James's

ames's Thehe Vaneliesanelies off Religiouseligious Expeneneexpenenee

(1902,

1902,

New

ew

York:

ork:

Universityniversity Books,ooks, 1963),963), p.

.

443;43; A

A

Worldorld of

f

Pure

ure

Expenence;

xpenence;'

(1904)1904) mEssays

ssays

RadIcal

adIcal

Emplriemn

mplriemn

(NewNew York:ork: E.P..P. Dutton

utton

andnd Co.,o., Inc.,nc., 1971),971),

p.

. 40;0; Some

ome

Problemsroblems off Philosophy:hilosophy: Thehe Worksorks

of

f Wilhamilham .JamesJames

(Cambridge,

Cambridge,

MA.:

A.:

Harvard

arvard

Umversity

mversity

Press,ress, 1979),979),

p..

70.0. Petereter Hareare effectivelyffectively discussesiscusses James'sames's styletyle inn 1mm

introductionntroduction

too Someome Problemsroblems

off

Philosophy,hilosophy,

esp.sp. pp.p.

XliI-XIX.liI-XIX.

6.. James,ames, PhilosophicalPhilosophical

Conceptionsonceptions andnd

Practicalractical ResulrS;'esulrS;' appendixppendix too Pragmalmnragmalmn:

Thehe Worksorks

off Wilham

ilham .JamesJames (Cambndge,Cambndge, MA.:A.:

Harvard

arvard

Press,

ress,

1975),

975),

p.. 268.

68.

Thehe metaphoretaphor appearedppeared frequentlyrequently inn James'sames's lecturesectures

to

o h1s1s introductoryntroductory philosophyhilosophy

students

tudents

att Harvardarvard andnd Stanford.tanford. See,ee,

FragmentsFragments

of

f

aLecture;'ecture;' (n.p.,n.p.,

c..

1907);907);

Syllabus

Syllabus

inn Philosophy

hilosophy

for

or

Philosophy

hilosophy

lA;

A;'

both

oth

in

n

the

he

James

ames

Family

amily

Papers,

apers,

Houghton

oughton

Library,

ibrary,

Harvard

arvard

University,

niversity,

bMS

MS

Am

m

1092.9

092.9

(hereafter

hereafter

referred

eferred

to

o

as

s

JFP).

FP).

7.

. Thehe backgroundackground historyistory of

f

pragmatismragmatism hasas beeneen outlinedutlined byy H.S..S. Thayerhayer inn hisis intro-ntro-

duction

uction

too Pragmatism,

ragmatism,

pp.p. xii-xix.ii-xix. Usefulseful analysesnalyses of

f

PragmallSm

ragmallSm

willill bee foundound

in

n

Ralph

alph

Barton

arton

Perry,

erry, Thehe Thoughthought andnd Characterharacter

off

Williamilliam .JamesJames

(Boston:

Boston:

Little,

ittle,

Brown,

rown, andnd

Company,

ompany,

1935),

935),

II,I, pp.

p.

441-51;

41-51;

and,

nd,

of

f

course,

ourse,

H.S.

.S.

Thayer,

hayer, Meaningeaning

and

nd Action:

ction:

A

Critical

ritical

History

istory

of

fPragmallSm

ragmallSm

(Indianapolis:Indianapolis: Thehe Bobbs-Merrillobbs-Merrill Com-om-

pany,any, Inc.,nc., 1968),968), pp.p. 133-52.33-52.

8

. Ibid.,bid.,

pp.

p.

45-46.

5-46.

9. Ibid.,bid.,

p.

.

97.

7.

10.

0. James,ames, Thehe Meamngeamng off Truth:ruth: Thehe Worksorks

of

f

Wilham

ilham .JamesJames (Cambridge,Cambridge, MA.:

A.:

Har-ar-

vardard Universityniversity Press,ress, 1975),975), pp.p. 3,, 69,9, 112.12.

11.1. Ibid.,bid.,

pp.

p.

51,

1,

101,

01,

112-13.

12-13.

12.2. Gilman,ilman, al.,l., eds.,ds., Thehe .JournalsJournals

and

nd MIscellaneousIscellaneous NOlebooksOlebooks off Ralphalph Waldoaldo Emer-mer-

sonon (Cambridge,Cambridge, MA.:A.: Harvardarvard Umversltymverslty Press,ress, 1960-1973),ten960-1973),ten volumes,olumes, VII,II, pp.p.

295,95, 9..

13.

3.

Karen

aren

Halttunen,

alttunen, ConfIdenceonfIdence Menen

and

nd Pal1lledal1lled Women:omen: A

Study

tudy

of

fMiddle-classiddle-class Cultureulture

Amencamenca

1830 1870

830 1870

(New

New

Haven.

aven.

Yale

ale

Umverslty

mverslty

Press,

ress,

1982),

982),

esp.

sp.

pp.

p.

198-210;

98-210;

Michaelichael Paulaul Rogin,ogin,

SubverSIveubverSIve Genealogy:enealogy: Thehe Politicsolitics

andnd

Arlrl off

Hermanerman Melvilleelville

(NewNew York:ork: Alfredlfred A.. Knopf,

nopf,

1983),983),

p.

. 277

14.

4.

Schumer,

chumer, WilhamWilham

James

ames

and

nd

the

he

New

ew

Age.

ge.

15.5.

Halttunen,

alttunen,

op

p.

eii. pp.

p.

203-10.

03-10.

16.6. James,ames, Pragmalism,

ragmalism,

opp. eiL,

iL,

p.

. 110.10.

17.

7.

James,ames, The

he

Will

ill

Beheve:

eheve:

The

he

Works

orks

off Wilham

ilham

.James

James

(Cambridge,Cambridge, MA.

A.

Harvardarvard

Universityniversity

Press,

ress,

1979),

979),

p.

.

8.

.

18.8.

Jacques

acques

Barzun,

arzun, AStrolltroll wirhirh

Wilham

ilham .JamesJames

(New

New

York.

ork. Harperarper

and

nd Rmv,

mv,

1983),

983),

rn.,

n.,

pp.p. 106-07.06-07.

19.9. Leoneon Edel,del, Henry.James:

enry.James:

The

he

Haunted

aunted

Yearsears (PhilaPhila ... ]

B

LIppincott,Ippincott, 1953),953), pp.p. 16-17.

6-17.

Lawnawn offersffers someome suggestiveuggestive

thoughtshoughts

onn James'sames's lecturingecturing but

ut

tendsends too

pamtamt

thehe

endeavor

ndeavor

in

n

overly

verly

existentIahst

xistentIahst

colors.

olors.

See,

ee, FromFrom

Temple

emple

Street;'

treet;'

pp.

p.

533-36.

33-36.

20.0.

Gayay Wilsonilson Allen,llen,

Wilhamilham

.JamesJames

(NewNew York:ork:

Thehe

Vikingiking Press,ress, 1967),967),

passIm.assIm.


10/10

6

Et

t

cetera

etera

SPRING

PRING

1985

985

21.

1.

Mmgaretames

ames

to

o M2rgaret

James,

ames,

July

uly

11

1

1905;

905;

James

ames

to

o

Henry

enry

James,

ames,

Jan.

an.

2,

,

1902

902

and

nd

Feb.

eb.

8,

,

1904,

904,

JFP.

FP.

22.

2.

Allen,

llen,

p

p.

eil.,

iL .

385.

85.

33.

Ibid.,

bid.

pp.

p.

439-41.

39-41.

24.

4.

James

ames

to

o

Henry

enry

James,

ames,

Feb.

eb.

1

1906,

906,

JFP.

FP.

25.

5.

James

ames

to

o

Alice

lice

G.

.

James,

ames,

April

pril

19

9

[18981,

1898],

JFP.

FP.

26.

6.

Ibid.,

bid.

Aug.

ug.

30,

0,

J

903,

03,

JFP.

FP.

27.

7.

James

ames

to

o

Bill,

ill,

Feb.

eb.

2,

,

1907,

907,

JFP.

FP.

28.

8.

James

ames

to

o

George

eorge

Holmes

olmes

Howison,

owison,

July

uly

2,

,

1897,

897,

JFP.

FP.

29.

9.

Ibid. AprilS

1897,

bid. April 5, J897,

JFP.

FP.

30.

0.

Ibid.

bid.

On

n

James s

ames s

speech

peech

at

t

the

he

Union,

nion

see

ee

San

an

Francisco

rancisco

Chronic/e

hronicle

Aug.

ug.

27,

7,

1898,

898,

Calzjornian 1

.

.

7 and

nd

il y

aily Caltfornian

Berkeley)

Berkeley)

12

2

Aug.

Aug.

31,

1,

1898),

898),

p

.

31

1.

James,

ames,

Pragmalism

ragmatism

p

.

268.

68.

32.2. Jamesames to

o

Henry

enry andnd Bill,ill, Dec.ec. 4,, 1906,906, JFP.FP.

Cash Value Metaphor Cotkin

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