Poetry and Pragmatism

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Richard Poirier, a prominent American critic, uncovers the often-overlooked connection between American pragmatism and poetry. He traces the evolution of pragmatism from Emerson and William James to poets like Robert Frost, Gertrude Stein, and Wallace Stevens, linking it to contemporary cultural debates. Poirier emphasizes Emerson's role as a foundational figure, illustrating how he exemplified the potential to transform past literature while redeeming it. He posits that both Emerson and James functioned as philosophers of language, highlighting that language encapsulates our cultural heritage, which must be engaged with and reinterpreted for future generations. In the context of Emersonian pragmatism, Poirier argues that losses—whether personal or cultural—lead to a pursuit of "superfluousness," a rhetorical excess that creative individuals use to transcend stagnation. He praises the authentic voice of individualism as tentative and casual, contrasting it with more aggressive approaches. The final chapters explore how this understanding of reading and writing redefines literary tradition and opens new avenues for criticism. Poirier's insights illuminate the contributions of key figures in American thought and advocate for a shift in contemporary criticism, urging readers to view poetic language as a source of meaning rather than the reverse.