What Is the Significance of John Dewey's Approach to the Problem of Knowledge?

Abstract

John Dewey's early work is often a good place to turn to gain a foothold on his later, very complex philosophical ideas. His 1897 essay, "The Significance of the Problem of Knowledge," is a clear, passionate statement of Dewey's concerns with the epistemology of his times and his views on how this epistemology should be redirected. In this article, we explore the concepts and theories Dewey develops in his essay and analyze some current educational discussions of knowledge in context of Dewey's thoughts. Although we caution against the tendency to cast different views of knowledge as dialectical oppositions, as Dewey does, we side with Dewey on the importance of careful reflection on experience and the necessity for justifying or warranting knowledge.

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