In this major new work, Richard J. Bernstein argues
that many of the most important themes in philosophy
during the past one hundred and fifty years are
variations and developments of ideas that were prominent
in the classical American pragmatists: Charles S.
Peirce, William James, John Dewey and George H Mead.
Pragmatism begins with a thoroughgoing critique of the
Cartesianism that dominated so much of modern
philosophy. The pragmatic thinkers reject a sharp
dichotomy between subject and object, mind-body dualism,
the quest for certainty and the spectator theory of
knowledge. They seek to bring about a sea change in
philosophy that highlights the social character of human
experience and normative social practices, the
self-correcting nature of all inquiry, and the
continuity of theory and practice. And they-especially
James, Dewey, and Mead-emphasize the democratic
ethical-political consequences of a pragmatic
orientation. Many of the themes developed by the
pragmatic thinkers were also central to the work of
major twentieth century philosophers like Wittgenstein
and Heidegger, but the so-called analytic-continental
split obscures this underlying continuity.Bernstein
develops an alternative reading of contemporary
philosophy that brings out the persistence and
continuity of pragmatic themes. He critically examines
the work of leading contemporary philosophers who have
been deeply influenced by pragmatism, including Hilary
Putnam, Jurgen Habermas, Richard Rorty, and Robert
Brandom, and he explains why the discussion of
pragmatism is so alive, varied and widespread. This
lucid, wide-ranging book by one of America's leading
philosophers will be compulsory reading for anyone who
wants to understand the state of philosophy
today. |
|