PRATT, James Bissett. Elmira, NY 22.6.1875 — Williamstown, MA 15.1.1944.U.S. Philosopher and Scholar of Religion. The only child of banker Daniel Ransom Pratt and Katharine Graham Murdoch. Graduated 1893 from Elmira Free Academy and 1898 from Williams College. Studies at Harvard (M.A. 1899) and Berlin. Ph.D. 1905 Harvard under W. James. From 1905 Instructor, 1906 Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Williams College in Williamstown, 1917 Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy there. Retired 1943. Visited India three times, 1913-14, 1923-24 and 1931-32 (now taught at Santiniketan), also visited Japan, China and Korea. Hon. L.H.D. 1943 Williams. Married 1911 Catherine Manotti (1887–1981).
Publications: India and its Faiths. 15+482 p. Boston 1915.
– The Pilgrimage of Buddhism. 758 p. L. – N.Y. 1928 (mainly on East Asian Buddhism).
– “Buddhism and Scientific Thinking”, Journal of Religion 14, 1934, 13-24.
– Much not related to South Asia.
Sources: K.A. Petersen in specialcollections.williams.edu; findagrave.com with photo; Wikipedia.
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