William Ernest Hocking
William Ernest Hocking (August 10, 1873 – June 12, 1966) was an American
idealist philosopher at
Harvard University. He continued the work of his philosophical teacher
Josiah Royce (the founder of
American idealism) in revising
idealism to integrate and fit into
empiricism,
naturalism and
pragmatism. He said that
metaphysics has to make inductions from experience: "That which does not work is not true." His major field of study was the philosophy of religion, but his 22 books included discussions of philosophy and human rights, world politics, freedom of the press, the philosophical psychology of human nature; education; and more. In 1958 he served as president of the
Metaphysical Society of America. He led a highly influential study of missions in mainline Protestant churches in 1932. His "
Laymen's Inquiry" recommended a greater emphasis on education and social welfare, transfer of power to local groups, less reliance on evangelizing and conversion, and a much more respectful appreciation for local religions.
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