the camp's namesake and inspiration was the pragmatic philosopher, william james, who delivered an influential address at stanford university in 1906 with the title, "the moral equivalent of war". "a permanently successful peace-economy cannot be a simple pleasure-economy", james argued, "martial virtues must be the enduring cement; intrepidity, contempt of softness, surrender of private interest, obedience to command, must still remain the rock upon which states are built." to devote oneself to these martial virtues in the service of others, taking up the menial tasks of society like an army at war for the sake of peace, is a force equal to war, james argued. rosenstock-huessy took up this theme, calling the young men who enlisted in the "camp" program, "soldiers".