On the Relationship between Science, Pragmatism and Religion

This article is part of a broader study dedicated to Pragmatism in Bulgaria and researches the relationship between science, pragmatism and religion as it is presented in the works of three Bulgarian authors in the period 1902-1932, during the early introduction of pragmatism. The first one of them, Georgi Minev, unleashes an emotional critique against science, fully supports James’s notions on religion and presents pragmatism as a philosophical doctrine destined to make the world a better place for everybody (1910). Asen Zlatarov, a chemist, biologist, philosopher and a true defender of science, acknowledges the value of pragmatism but also sees in some of its ideas a direct threat towards the scientific foundations of the contemporary world (1930). Ivan Sarailiev, the author of “Pragmatism. A contribution towards history of contemporary philosophy,” delivers a public lecture on the overcoming of the conflict between science and religion (1931).