The Task of Utopia: A Pragmatist and Feminist PerspectiveAt their best, both American pragmatism and utopianism are about hope. Both encourage people to think about the future as a guide to understanding the past and forming the present. Just as pragmatism has often been misunderstood as valueless instrumentalism, utopianism has been limited to dreams of a static perfect world. In this book, Erin McKenna argues that utopian vision informed by pragmatism results in a process model of utopia that can help form the future based on critical intelligence. Using John Dewey's works with feminist theory and literature, McKenna develops this pragmatist feminist model of utopia. |
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achieve activity anarchist model anarchist utopian anarchist visions anarchy Ann Boydston Carbondale become believe choice citizens classical liberal connectedness critical and flexible critical intelligence critique democracy desirable develop Dewey's direct discussed diversity encourage end-state model end-state utopian visions end-state visions ends-in-view experimentation Feminism feminist utopian flexible habits freedom future Gate to Women's Gearhart goal Guin habits of mind Hill Women human nature ideal Illinois University Press imagination individual interests Jo Ann Boydston John Dewey Kesh limits lived experience Marge Piercy Mattapoisett means model of utopia necessary notion participation Paul Berman perfect perspective Piercy political possible pragmatist and feminist present problems process model promote realize recognize requires responsible revolution Rousseau Sally Miller Gearhart seek sense social society Southern Illinois University Tepper theory tion transvaluation transvaluation of values ture understanding Ursula K utopian fiction violence Wanderground Woman Women's Country