It is either celebrated or conceded that ture, matted-down light hair, plain specta- John Dewey is the most influential Amer- cles, drooping mustache, and starched ican philosopher of the 20th century. No collar, Dewey looked more like a Victorian other philosopher in this century, Richard businessman from the Midwest than a theo- Rorty has observed, so freed philosophy retician of metaphysics and a political activ- from its age-old metaphysical concerns and ist. But in habit if not in appearance,...