[Mouritz 2014 edition description]
My theories of mind-body, of the co-ordination of the active elements of the self and of the place of ideas in inhibition and control of overt action required contact with the work of F. M. Alexander and in later years his brother, A.R., to transform them into realities.
John Dewey
John Dewey (1859-1952) was America's most eminent philosopher and educational reformer whose ideas continue to inspire educationalists all over the world. Despite Dewey's lifelong endorsement of the Alexander Technique the extent of the impact by Alexander on Dewey's thought has either been misunderstood or has not been appreciated. This neglected influence is fully examined in McCormack's classic thesis from 1958.
McCormack's thesis points out how fundamental concepts in Dewey's philosophy are directly related to his experience of the Alexander Technique. Concepts such as "meaning", "knowledge", "habit", and "character" may only be fully understood in the context of the Technique. More importantly, it demonstrates the pragmatism which underlies Dewey's philosophy, and clarifies his process-oriented approach to knowledge based on concrete experiences which can be tested and replicated.
The three appendices further illustrate the relationship between Dewey and Alexander: "A Sick World" by John Dewey; "John Dewey and F. Matthias Alexander" by C. M. Turbayne; and "John Dewey and F. M. Alexander - 36 Years of Friendship" by Alexander Murray.
[Eric McCormack's] study provides a completely new perspective on Dewey's thought; with such a perspective, philosophers could no longer in good conscience speak or write condescendingly of the Dewey-Alexander relationship; McCormack establishes that Alexander's influence clearly pervades Dewey's work.
Jo Ann Boydston, Editor of The Collected Works of John Dewey
