Sean Epstein-Corbin
Merced College, English, Faculty Member
- University of California, Merced, Merritt Writing Program, Department Memberadd
This paper shows that William James borrowed a rhetorical framework from sentimental prose – both narrative and argumentative – which helped him grapple with novel problems in modern philosophy. The new direction I take to Jamesian... more
This paper shows that William James borrowed a rhetorical
framework from sentimental prose – both narrative and
argumentative – which helped him grapple with novel problems in
modern philosophy. The new direction I take to Jamesian studies is
to place James into a context – sentimental culture – that can reveal
to scholars how sentimental discourse influenced his thought, and
how sentimental discourse might vibrate across pragmatism’s
genealogy. I pay special attention to the philosophical tradition of
moral sentimentalism and the literary tradition of sentimental
fiction. Taken together, my efforts should help scholars to look at
James anew – as a rhetorical innovator who borrowed narrative and
argumentative tropes from the discursive environment available to
him.
framework from sentimental prose – both narrative and
argumentative – which helped him grapple with novel problems in
modern philosophy. The new direction I take to Jamesian studies is
to place James into a context – sentimental culture – that can reveal
to scholars how sentimental discourse influenced his thought, and
how sentimental discourse might vibrate across pragmatism’s
genealogy. I pay special attention to the philosophical tradition of
moral sentimentalism and the literary tradition of sentimental
fiction. Taken together, my efforts should help scholars to look at
James anew – as a rhetorical innovator who borrowed narrative and
argumentative tropes from the discursive environment available to
him.
