Philosophize This! Episode #142 ... Richard Rorty
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Apr 15, 2020 Dive into the unique political philosophy of Richard Rorty, who reframes human rights through societal consensus rather than fixed truths. Explore his pragmatic view on altruism and evolving moral standards, challenging Enlightenment ideals. Discover how personal beliefs are shaped by subjective experiences and Rorty's idea of 'final vocabularies.' Finally, learn about living as an 'ironist,' embracing uncertainty and fostering solidarity in a diverse world. It's a thought-provoking journey into a pluralistic perspective!
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Enlightenment's Value
- The Enlightenment's value wasn't finding universal truths, but challenging authority.
- Rorty views thinkers like Berlin, who advocate pluralism, as continuing this project.
Citizen Consensus
- Societies benefit from policies based on citizen consensus, not abstract philosophy.
- Grounding policies in universal truths is limiting and impractical.
Language Constitutes Reality
- Rorty rejects the correspondence theory of truth, arguing language doesn't represent reality but constitutes it.
- Language mediates and shapes our understanding, varying across cultures.