Book excerpt: First Published in 1999. The purpose of this series is to provide a contemporary assessment and history of the entire course of philosophical thought. Each book constitutes a detailed, critical introduction to the work of a philosopher of major influence and significance. Someone relatively new to philosophy might expect from the series title to have here a book about the disputes in which John Dewey engaged with other philosophers. ‘Arguments’ in the present context, however, refers to a general way of articulating thoughts, that is by offering some as reasons for holding others.