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Philosophy and Social Hope
Since Plato most philosophy has aimed at true knowledge, penetrating beneath appearances to an underlying reality. Against this tradition, Richard Rorty convincingly argues, pragmatism offers a new philosophy of hope. One of the most controversial figures in recent philosophical and wider literary and cultural debate, Rorty brings together an original collection of his mos...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
January 1st 2000
by Penguin Books
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In this series (early 1990s) of essays, Rorty outlines his alliance with the pragmatist philosophy of John Dewey. The first few essays outline the pragmatist theoretical viewpoint. This is the best part of the book. The later essays apply the pragmatist theory to specific issues. These are much less interesting.
Pragmatism's main task is to steer philosophy away from truth for truth's sake and move it toward solving real problems to benefit humankind. Both are laudable goals. In the first instan...more
Pragmatism's main task is to steer philosophy away from truth for truth's sake and move it toward solving real problems to benefit humankind. Both are laudable goals. In the first instan...more
As a general reader, I found these collection of essays to be a great introduction to Rorty. First, It deals with the central issues of its thought, such as its criticism of the reality-appearance distinction, in a very clear way that does not presuppose any particular knowledge of philosophy. Second, it tells the story of how Rorty ended up where he did, from his intention to be a Platonist in his teens to how he became an admirer of Dewey. This is always very interesting reading. Third, it cov...more
I bought this based entirely on the cover and title, at Kramerbooks in Dupont Circle. I read it, cover to cover, on the subway, and a second time in my tiny rowhouse bedroom. That was about eight years ago, and I remember exactly nothing from this horrible, dull book.
Later, I saw a girl about my age, on the subway, reading this disaster. I felt like walking up to her and slapping the book out of her hands. It's a collection of essays published in other places. But it reads less like a "greatest...more
Later, I saw a girl about my age, on the subway, reading this disaster. I felt like walking up to her and slapping the book out of her hands. It's a collection of essays published in other places. But it reads less like a "greatest...more
This book is a great introduction to Rorty. I've read one of his more technical books - 'Contingency, Irony and Solidarity' - and this one was much easier to get through. The structure of the book is a set of short vignettes that had been previously published plus one new piece at the very end. The articles have only a loose association with one another, so it's possible to jump around or just skip one altogether and not feel as if you're missing the point of the book.
To me, Rorty is an always s...more
To me, Rorty is an always s...more
I took Logic and then Philosophy from a great teacher at the U, Michael Root. In love (practically), I signed up for the next class he offered - all on truth and philosophy and everything. I totally was over my head, at the simplistic level I was operating at back then. Dropped it after just a class or two.
Now, all these years later, I soooo wish I'd been in a different place then. Oh well, now is now!
Now, all these years later, I soooo wish I'd been in a different place then. Oh well, now is now!
Jan 30, 2009
Michael
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who would rather discuss and think than choose a side and stick.
Recommended to Michael by:
Jumped off the shelf at Borders while I was looking for somethin
Interesting observations from a philosopher "in the middle". Expands the vocabulary for talking about pragmatism, as well as for discussions of "relativism". Loved the fact Rorty revels in having been brutally criticised by both the "right" and "left". A good read for those who would rather not "make up their minds", preferring to entertain ideas instead of arriving at hasty conclusions.
This book contains 20 essays by the late Rorty, personally I think this is the best introduction to his neo-pragmatism. Anyone interested with his thinking can't afford to miss his "Truth without correspondence to reality", "A world without substances or essence" and "Ethics without principles". To me "Religion as conversation stopper" is provocative yet stimulating.
I found this book after reading Rorty's Prickly Paradigm essay. The Eco essay is a little tedious. The Kuhn essay is nice. I want a Christian friend of mine to read "Religion as a Conversation-stopper" so he can see how pragmatic philosophy can be accepting of religious arguments. To round off a conversation we had about that, I mean. Not just out of the blue.
For me,a general reading,this book is provocative thinking.I interesting in,Rorty's offering on new philosophy of Hope and relate with lit and cul.
I skim the book during last four years.
Various aspect I still can't understand him better.
This book require me to read it again.
so Sorrow for his life, I just know him on his last time.
Hope will come true .
I skim the book during last four years.
Various aspect I still can't understand him better.
This book require me to read it again.
so Sorrow for his life, I just know him on his last time.
Hope will come true .
I prefer Rorty's longer-form work to this collection of essays, which assume a wide western philosophical education that I've long forgotten from my IB Theory of Knowledge classes...Still, he's solid. And worth feeling like all the name-dropping was something I needed to track.
Rorty is, to me, the most important thinker of the twentieth century. This book is an easy read and is an excellent introduction to Rortian thought. I highly recommend it.
An excellent book, written by one the most significant philosophers of the late 20th century.
Jul 07, 2009
J. Dunn
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Shelves:
nonfiction,
contemporary,
21st-century,
american,
essays,
philosophy,
politics,
democracy,
pragmatism,
epistemology,
ethics,
culture,
literature,
art,
aesthetics,
criticism,
owned,
favorite,
find-etext
A book that I think had a lot to do with shaping my ideas about ideas… what they can and can’t do, where they can be dangerous, and what hopes there are for harnessing them to make human life markedly better.
Most inspiring
Oct 02, 2007
laura
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who wonders about ethics and ethical systems.
wonderful wonderful insights, at the nexus of ethics and everything else-- theories of politics, social systems, cognition, human evolution, language. a lot of these are reworked versions of lectures, aimed at a general audience. i would give almost anything to have attended them.
we lost a great mind this year when richard rorty passed away. read this book. it's full of all sorts of ideas worth thinking and talking about.
we lost a great mind this year when richard rorty passed away. read this book. it's full of all sorts of ideas worth thinking and talking about.
A delightful collection of Rorty essays. They are short, dense and filled with Rorty's usual brilliance and sarcasm, as well as his iconic thin veil of humility disguised as Dewey worship.
I enjoyed the collection immensely, but if there is meaning in the selection beyond that they all have some imaginable link to politics, it is beyond me.
I enjoyed the collection immensely, but if there is meaning in the selection beyond that they all have some imaginable link to politics, it is beyond me.
Sep 11, 2007
Jon Stout
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
pragmatists, relativists
Shelves:
philosophy
Interesting collection of essays in which Richard Rorty elaborates on the consequences of his position that truth does not portray reality, but rather is simply a useful tool. Topics include how education without absolute truth is socialization, and how religious belief can be a "useful tool".
excellent work. Rorty is always a good read for identifying problems. The answers to those problems, however, are not nearly as satisfying.
great, accessible intro to Rorty - not as intense as mirror of nature, but lucid, persuasive, and yes hopeful-
This is a wonderful collection of essays by one of our country's greatest public intellectuals.
Rorty is brilliant. I ultimately disagree, but at least I begin to understand pragmatism here.
This is what I read when the malaise hits. Perks me back up every time.
Some really interesting essays. I'm sure I'll keep coming back.
Mar 02, 2008
Amy Boetcher
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
philosophy-interested
Recommended to Amy by:
me
I really liked this book, and finished it pretty quickly.
The king of pragmatism.
May 21, 2013
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Richard Rorty (1931–2007) developed a distinctive and controversial brand of pragmatism that expressed itself along two main axes. One is negative—a critical diagnosis of what Rorty takes to be defining projects of modern philosophy. The other is positive—an attempt to show what intellectual culture might look like, once we free ourselves from the governing metaphors of mind and knowledge in which...more
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updated Mar 14, 2011 07:46am
Mar 14, 2011 04:52pm