John Dewey

Profession: Philosopher, Psychologist, Writer

Nationality:

Biography: John Dewey was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century, with a profound impact in the United States and around the world.

Born in 1859 in Burlington, Vermont, Dewey graduated from the University of Vermont in 1879. He developed an early interest in philosophy and psychology under the guidance of Henry A.P. Torrey. Dewey's 1896 paper, "The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology," was a seminal work in the field of functional psychology.

Dewey founded the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools to put his progressive educational theories into practice. He wrote several influential books, including "Democracy and Education" (1916) and "Experience and Nature" (1925), in which he expressed his belief in the importance of education for an engaged citizenry.

As a public intellectual and social activist, Dewey advocated for academic freedom and progressive causes such as women's suffrage. He was involved with organizations like the NAACP, labor unions, and the New School for Social Research.

In 1937, Dewey served on a commission in Mexico that cleared Leon Trotsky of the charges leveled against him by the Soviet government.

Dewey's ideas also had a significant impact internationally. In 1919, he visited Japan and spent two years in China, where he promoted democracy and educational reform. In 1934, he traveled to South Africa to speak at a conference on new education methods.

Dewey's contemporaries recognized him as one of the most prominent American scholars of his time. In China, he was hailed as "the American Confucius" and "Mr. Democracy."

Born: October 20, 1859
Birthplace: Burlington, Vermont, USA
Star Sign: Libra

Died: June 1, 1952 (aged 92)