John Dewey

John Dewey (1859–1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer whose work shaped pragmatism and progressive education. Born in Burlington, Vermont, he taught at the University of Michigan, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University. Dewey argued that ideas should be tested through experience and that learning is most effective when rooted in active inquiry and real-life problem solving. His educational writings emphasized democracy in the classroom and the social purposes of schooling. Among his best-known books are *Democracy and Education* (1916) and *Experience and Nature* (1925). Dewey’s influence extended across philosophy, pedagogy, and public life.