Philosophy and Social Hope

Resumen del libro

Most philosophy since Plato has aimed at true knowledge, penetrating beneath appearances to an underlying reality. To this tradition, argues Richard Rorty, pragmatism opposes a philosophy of hope.

One of the most provocative figures in recent philosophical and wider literary and cultural debate, Richard Rorty brings together in this collection a wide range of philosophical, political and cultural writings, many published in book form for the first time. He explains in a fascinating memoir how he began to move away from Plato towards James and Dewey, culminating in his own version of pragmatism. What matters, he suggests, is not whether our ideas correspond to some fundamental reality but whether they help us carry out practical tasks and create a fairer and more democratic society. In an introduction called 'Relativism' and a (previously unpublished) afterword on the unfortunate popularity of the term 'postmodern', Rorty responds to charges that he is a 'postmodern relativist'.

In these eloquent essays, articles and lectures, all aimed at a wide audience, Rorty gives a stimulating summary of his central philosophical beliefs and how they relate to his political hopes; he also offers some challenging insights into contemporary America, justice, education and love. The result is an superb introduction to one of today's leading thinkers.

Biografía del autor

Richard Rorty (Nueva York, 1931 - Virginia, 2007) filósofo norteamericano, fue profesor de las universidades de Princeton y Virginia, y profesor emérito de la Universidad de Stanford. Sus principales aportaciones se inscribieron en la corriente de la filosofía pragmática, la filosofía analítica y la teoría del giro lingüístico. Autor de una extensa obra, Paidós ha publicado: Contingencia, ironía y solidaridad, Objetividad, relativismo y verdad. Escritos filosóficos 1, Ensayos sobre Heidegger y otros pensadores contemporáneos. Escritos filosóficos 2, Verdad y progreso. Escritos filosóficos 3, El giro lingüístico, Pragmatismo y política ,El futuro de la religión " junto con Gianni Vattimo- , La filosofía en la historia y Forjar nuestro país.