Essays in Radical Empiricism (ERE) is a significant collection of philosophical writings by William James, posthumously published in 1912 by his colleague and biographer, Ralph Barton Perry. The book was primarily assembled from ten journal articles James had published between 1904 and 1905, which he originally deposited at Harvard for his students' supplemental use. Crucially, James himself did not select or collate these essays into a book, meaning ERE does not present a systematic exposition of his thought, which has contributed to varied interpretations and even misunderstandings of radical empiricism.
While James had his own evolving plans for a book on this topic, listing 15 essays in 1907, these were never realized as he prioritized other works like Pragmatism. Perry ultimately assembled ERE by drawing from James's earlier lists but also made his own substitutions and additions, further highlighting the non-authorial nature of the final collection. This historical context is vital for understanding the complexities and nuances of James's philosophical stance as presented in this influential work.