James, William

Cultural  

1. An American philosopher and psychologist of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. He was one of the first theorists to suggest that humans, like other animals, possess instincts. He also opposed then-dominant views by arguing that human identity is grounded not in metaphysics but in behavior.

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Novelist Henry James was William James's brother.

Example Sentences

Born in Pascagoula, Miss., on Christmas Day 1946, James William Buffett had wanderlust in his blood.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 2, 2023

The trip organiser, identified as James William Awad, said in a statement on Thursday that Sunwing was being unreasonable over a "simple party".

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2022

St-Pierre said she won the free trip in a contest on Instagram and had never previously heard of the organizer, who identified himself on social media as James William Awad.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 6, 2022

James William Pressler Jr., who lived in Washington, was born in Kingston, N.Y., on Aug. 8, 1948.

From Washington Post • Jan. 4, 2022

In her view the Royal Family and the family of Hyde, however they might differ as to other matters, were leagued against her; and she detested them all, James, William and Mary, Clarendon and Rochester.

From The History of England, from the Accession of James II — Volume 3 by Macaulay, Thomas Babington Macaulay, Baron