The William James Society (WJS) is a multidisciplinary professional society which supports the study of, and communication about, the life and work of William James (1842-1910) and his ongoing influence in the many fields to which he contributed.
The William James Society was founded in 1999 by Randall Albright and quickly grew to include members from across the USA and around the world. In 2001, the Society ratified an organizational constitution, held its first annual meeting, and elected executive offices. For many years, WJS published the in-house newsletter and scholarly outlet Streams of William James. In 2006, the society shifted gears and began publishing the academic, peer reviewed, online journal William James Studies through the University of Illinois Press.
Membership in the Society is open to anyone interested in issues related to the thought and character of William James, and joins you to a growing community of scholars and others with related academic interests.
Latest News and Upcoming Events
• The William James Center at TU Dortmund University in Germany opened on June 28, 2010. For more information visit the Center's website or contact Logi Gunnarsson.
• IN MEMORIAM: Sergio Franzese (1963-2010). Our friend and colleague Sergio Franzese, Assistant Professor of the University of Lecce, died from cancer on May 26th.
Sergio was one of the most active William James scholars in Europe. He obtained a PhD in philosophy from the University of Pisa and one from Vanderbilt University. His work covered pragmatism, the philosophy of Nietzsche as well as a variety of other fields.
His two most recent books bear the titles Darwinismo e Pragmatismo and The Ethics of Energy: William James' Moral Philosophy in Focus. Other works can be found on his personal website.
We will remember Sergio not only from his writings, but also as a person. He had a keen mind, warm heart, and energetic spirit. He will be greatly missed.
• "In the Footsteps of William James: A Symposium to Honor – and Make Use of – James’s Ideas," Chocorua, NH, and Cambridge, MA, August 13-16, 2010. Sponsored by the William James Society. More >>
• "William James and the Transatlantic Conversation," Oxford University, September 23-25, 2010. Keynote speakers: David A. Hollinger (Berkeley) and David C. Lambeth (Harvard). More >>
• William James Conference in Portugal, November 2010. The University of Coimbra, with the support of the “Science and Technology Foundation” and of the Philosophy Department of the University, is sponsoring a conference on William James in November 2010. The organizers seek collaboration with members of the William James Society, and they plan presentations on pragmatic philosophy, history of pragmatism, logic, semiotics, consciousness and the stream of consciousness, the mind-body problem, and philosophy of psychology.
Please contact the conference organizer, Edmundo Balsemão Pires, Professor and Coordinator of the research group on “Individuation of Modern Society” of the R&D Team in the “Science and Technology Foundation,” and member of the Philosophy Department at the University of Coimbra, Portugal.