This paper explores Romano's presentation of philosophy-as-a-way-of-life, as distinct from philosophy-as-an academic discipline, on the American scene. After briefly indicating the nature of his belief in America as philosophical, emphasis is placed on surveying the breadth of philosophical America - from Emerson through Obama, and from psychological therapy through cyber-philosophy - and on Romano's valuable blurring of our fixed ideas about what philosophy is and should be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
This paper elaborates on Romano's landmark book as a paradigm extension from philosophy as a doctrine to philosophy as a personal disposition to think reflectively. Romano's pragmatism highlights philosophy as a reflective tendency in the service of the relevant and for the benefit of a better life as it is actually lived. Rather than staying within its own territory, the point is to enter what might seem like non-philosophical realms of action with the idea of cultivating them. Breaking away from the overtly academic boundaries of philosophy, Romano's book paves the way for a positive philosophy movement and for philosophy that contributes to people's actual conduct of their lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]