Philosophy and Social Hope Summary and Reviews

Philosophy and Social Hope
by Richard Rorty

Philosophy and Social Hope
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Book Summary Information

Author: Richard Rorty
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-01-01
ISBN: 0140262881
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics)

Book Reviews of Philosophy and Social Hope

Book Review: A Book Useful for Thoughtful People Everywhere
Summary: 5 Stars

To those already acquainted with the writing and thought of Richard M Rorty the contents of "Philosophy and Social Hope" will offer few surprises - and yet I would still recommend that such people should get a copy of this book! It is Rorty's endless ability to repeat his thoughts in new and (always) interesting ways which is one of his greatest attractions. I first got into Rorty via the postmodernism debate and, having read much of his work since then, I have become much enamoured of his pragmatic (Pragmatic) approach which fuzzes up distinctions beloved of Platonic/Kantian types and which longs to be "better/hopeful" rather than "right".

Although Rorty writes here for a generalised audience (and its not always obvious from his writing whether the work is "academic" or not), he does write as if his readers know what he is talking about. Thus, readers who come equipped with a Deweyan, Davidsonian, Jamesian vocabulary are more likely to be able to appropriate what he is saying more easily. I suspect any adherents of realist philosophy who stumble across this book will not get past the introduction and will go away angry and scandalised that such thought be allowed to exist, much less be promoted and read.

I found the opening three sections (autobiographical, pragmatic theoretical and pragmatic applicative) by far the most interesting and enjoyable here - together with a stimulating "afterword" on "Pragmatism, Pluralism and Postmodernism" - which is itself a good place to start reading this book. Being a non-American, I was less enthusiastic about reading Rorty's thoughts and hopes for that country. However, much of what he says is broadly aplicative to my own country and the reader is always free to look behind the scenes of Rorty's argument and, once more, gaze upon what motivates his arguments. In closing, I would argue that Rorty is the most significant figure writing on culture in general and philosophy in particular at the moment. This collection of his works over the last decade is an accessible and stimulating way to appropriate that work. Mucho recommendo!

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