# William James — Human Nature and Conduct character guide

> William James in Human Nature and Conduct by John Dewey.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0002-human-nature-and-conduct

## Who they are

American psychologist and philosopher referenced on habit and psychology.

## In the story

### [Human Nature and Conduct](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/human-nature-and-conduct)

Influential in Dewey's psychological approach, particularly the concept of habit as a fundamental unit of behavior.

### [Part I: The Place of Habit in Conduct](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/part-i-the-place-of-habit-in-conduct)

Dewey engages with James's psychological insights on habit as a conservative force and its role in forming character.

### [Part II: The Place of Impulse in Conduct](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/part-ii-the-place-of-impulse-in-conduct)

Referenced in the context of psychological theories of instinct and habit.

### [I: Impulses and Change of Habit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/i-impulses-and-change-of-habit)

Referenced implicitly through the discussion of modern psychology's focus on instincts, though not named directly.

### [No Separate Instincts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/vi-no-separate-instincts)

Implied through the discussion of habit and impulse, though not directly named in the excerpt.

### [Habit and Intelligence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/i-habit-and-intelligence)

Referenced for his description of the stream of consciousness as alternation of flights and perchings.

### [III: The Nature of Deliberation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/iii-the-nature-of-deliberation)

Dewey cites James's view that passion keeps imagination dwelling on congenial objects, intensifying its force, and that rationality involves more passions, not fewer.

### [Desire and Intelligence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/viii-desire-and-intelligence)

Referenced through the discussion of impulse and the psychology of desire, aligning with James's functionalist approach.

### [Morals Are Human](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/chapters/ii-morals-are-human)

Dewey's pragmatic approach to knowledge and action echoes James's philosophy; the emphasis on the use of facts in a context of desire and habit reflects James's psychology.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/characters/william_james
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/human_nature_and_conduct_se/characters