The Thought of Mary Whiton Calkins, American Philosopher

Abstract In this paper Calkins's work in philosophy is examined through two of her major books, and it is concluded that she was an early naturalizer and proponent of lines of thought that now receive greater attention. In general, Calkins refuses to accept the a priori patterns of theory of the traditional style; her work alludes to empirical lines of thought. One consequence of her work is that nineteenth‐century views on religion and religious practice may be further alembicated. In addition, Calkins's work clearly demonstrates the early ties between psychology and philosophy, now sometimes overlooked. Her thinking is decidedly an advance in terms of her era.