How did John Dewey help spread William James's pragmatism in the United States?

John Dewey played a pivotal role in advancing and formalizing pragmatism in the United States by building upon the foundational work of William James and Charles Sanders Peirce.1

Dewey first encountered James’s influence in the 1890s, which helped him transition away from Hegelian idealism toward the experimental psychology and pragmatist thought championed by James. Rather than simply repeating James’s ideas, Dewey reformulated pragmatism into a coherent theory he termed instrumentalism.231

Dewey helped spread these concepts by:
* Integrating Disciplines: He synthesized the logical currents of Peirce with the humanistic approach of James, applying these methods to education, psychology, and social reform.42
* Practical Application: By developing progressive pedagogy at the University of Chicago and later at Columbia University, he demonstrated how pragmatic ideas functioned as tools for solving real-world problems.31
* Public Engagement: Through his prolific writing, including articles in popular periodicals, Dewey expanded the reach of pragmatist thought beyond academic circles, framing it as a vital ethic for democracy.23