I characterize my approach to creative photography from a constructivist or postmodern perspective as “making art” as contrasted to “taking a picture of something.” I subsume this dimension under the superordinate dimension of constructivism and postmodernism contrasted with foundationalism and modernism, viewing creative photography as an appropriation of impressions and concepts to create an image that depends for its meaning on the viewer’s response rather than representing reality or inherent meaning. I also consider subordinate construct dimensions related to the creative process of making artistic photographs and include examples of images that illustrate these dimensions.

Scholars locate Kelly’s Personal Construct Psychology within the context of American pragmatism. Kelly noted his closeness to pragmatist John Dewey, but only cited William James briefly and in general terms. James’ explication of pragmatism demonstrates several areas of compatibility with PCP; examining James’ ideas might deepen understanding of PCP. This article describes relevant elements of James’ pragmatism, including the process of nature, the practical effects of ideas, truth as action and practice, passion and emotion, conventional common sense constructions, generalization of constructs, the role of human possibility, and the importance of goals and intentionality.

Kelly’s work was formed and developed in the context of the American philosophical movement known as pragmatism. The major figures to which this tradition is attributed are Charles S. Peirce, William James and John Dewey. In Personal Construct Psychology, Dewey was acknowledged by Kelly and by subsequent writers as perhaps his most important influence. It has recently become increasingly apparent, however that Peirce was a much more pervasive and crucial influence on James and Dewey than has previously been recognized. Kelly did not mention Peirce but a close reading of the two writers reveals a remarkable correspondence and relationship between their two bodies of work. To set these two thinkers side by side proves to be an interesting and productive exercise. In this paper, after introducing Peirce and examining the relationship between him and Dewey, Kelly’s basic philosophical assumptions, as outlined at the beginning of Volume 1 of the Psychology of Personal Constructs, are used as a framework for exploring their similarities and differences. The result is an enrichment of our understanding of Kelly’s philosophy which allows us to make links with many different subsequent thinkers’ ideas and provides a basis for exploring the psychological aspects of the two men’s work. The latter forms the subject of Part II of this series which is in preparation.

Key words: peirce, kelly, pragmatism, personal construct psychology, constructivism.