Richard Rorty

by Alan Malachowski

Overview

Richard Rorty is notorious for contending that the traditional, foundation-building and truth-seeking ambitions of systematic philosophy should be set aside in favour of a more pragmatic, conversational, hermeneutically guided project. This challenge has not only struck at the heart of philosophy but has ricocheted across other disciplines, both contesting their received self-images and opening up new avenues of inquiry in the process. Alan Malachowski provides an authoritative overview of Rorty's considerable body of work and a general assessment of his impact both within philosophy and in the humanities more broadly. He begins by explaining the genesis of Rorty's central ideas, tracking their development from suggestions in his early papers through their crystallization in his groundbreaking book, "Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature". Malachowski evaluates some of the common criticisms of Rorty's position and his ensuing pragmatism. The book examines the subsequent evolution of his ideas, focusing particularly on the main themes of his second major work, Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity. The political and cultural impact of Rorty's writings on such diverse fields as feminism, cultural and literary theory, and international relations are also considered, and the author explores why Rorty's work has generally found its warmest reception in these areas rather than among mainstream philosophers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781902683133
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/30/2002
Series:	Philosophy Now
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alan Malachowski is Honorary Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of East Anglia. He is the editor of Reading Rorty and Richard Rorty (4 Volumes).

Also Known As:

Mark Odom HatfieldPamela RodriguezThe FlamingosJohn BongioviJohn Francis BongioviParis Opéra BalletThe Paris Opera BalletDJ Knigge

Table of Contents

Preface and acknowledgements A note on the text Abbreviations Introduction 1. Platonic yearnings 2. Conversation 3. Pragmatism 4. Contingency 5. Liberalism 6. Some critics 7. Rorty's legacy Guide to further reading Bibliography Index

What People are Saying About This

Michael Williams

This is an engaging, timely, and useful book. It offers the student and general reader something that is badly needed: a wide-ranging, accessible and sympathetic introduction to Rorty's thought.
— Michael Williams, The Johns Hopkins University, author of "Unnatural Doubts"

From the Publisher

"This is an engaging, timely, and useful book. It offers the student and general reader something that is badly needed: a wide-ranging, accessible and sympathetic introduction to Rorty's thought."—Michael Williams, The Johns Hopkins University, author of Unnatural Doubts

Editorial Reviews

"Richard Rorty is, as Malachowski ably argues in this well-crafted introductory study, one of today's most inventive, provocative, and prolific philosophers. He is also, according to Malachowski, one of our most misunderstood thinkers."

Choice

"This is an engaging, timely, and useful book. It offers the student and general reader something that is badly needed: a wide-ranging, accessible and sympathetic introduction to Rorty's thought."—Michael Williams, The Johns Hopkins University, author of Unnatural Doubts

From the Publisher