Overview

Pragmatism and Objectivity illuminates the nature of contemporary pragmatism against the background of Rescher’s work, resulting in a stronger grasp of the prospects and promises of this philosophical movement. The central insight of pragmatism is that we must start from where we find ourselves and deflate metaphysical theories of truth in favor of an account that reflects our actual practices of the concept. Pragmatism links truth and rationality to experience, success, and action. While crude versions of pragmatism state that truth is whatever works for a person or a community, Nicholas Rescher has been at the forefront of arguing for a more sophisticated pragmatist position. According to his position, we can illuminate a robust concept of truth by considering its links with inquiry, assertion, belief, and action. His brand of pragmatism is objective and organized around truth and inquiry, rather than other forms of pragmatism that are more subjective and lenient. The contingency and fallibility of knowledge and belief formation does not mean that our beliefs are simply what our community decides, or that truth and objectivity are spurious notions. Rescher offers the best chance of understanding how it is that beliefs can be the products of human inquiry yet aim at the truth nonetheless. The essays in this volume, written by established and up-and-coming scholars of pragmatism, touch on themes related to epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and ethics.

Full Product Details

Author:   Sami Pihlström (University of Helsinki, Finland)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.453kg
ISBN:  

9780367595371

ISBN 10:   0367595370
Pages:   282
Publication Date:   30 June 2020
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Foreword Cheryl Misak Introduction Sami Pihlström Part I: Truth and Reality Chapter 1. Pragmatic Realism, Idealism, and Pluralism: A Rescherian Balance? Sami Pihlström Chapter 2: Pragmatism and Metaphilosophy Scott F. Aikin and Robert B. Talisse Chapter 3. Prospects for an Objective Pragmatism: Frank Ramsey on Truth, Meaning, and Justification Griffin Klemick Chapter 4: Pragmatism and Science Robert Almeder Chapter 5. Is Kant a Confused Pragmatist? Tom Rockmore Chapter 6. Toward a More Peircean Version of Pragmatic Realism Vincent Colapietro Part II: Reasoning Chapter 7. Ramsey’s Theory of Belief and the Problem of Attitude Divergence Jessica Wright Chapter 8. Concrete Reasonableness and Pragmatist Ideals: Peirce and Rescher on Normative Theory Rosa Mayorga Chapter 9. Obliquely about Realism: The State of Play of a Minor Affair Joseph Margolis Part III: Value Chapter 10. Rescherean Pragmatism Joseph C. Pitt Chapter 11. Pragmatism and the Inseparability of Objectivity and Solidarity: Rescher on Rhetorical Rationality, Method and Cooperative Interaction Helmut Pape Chapter 12. Psychology of Desire and the Pragmatics of Betterment Timo Airaksinen Chapter 13. From Method to Medicine: A Pragmatist Approach to Bioethics Diana B. Heney Chapter 14. Moral Responsibility and the Cognitive Status of Ethical Ideals John R. Shook

Reviews

"""Rescher's masterly corpus is legendary in its scope and volume. This collection focuses on issues prompted by his avowed pragmatism. Philosophers who have long studied and commented on Rescher's work have been asked to share this focus, which results in a welcome avenue to understanding pragmatism, as well as Rescher's system and its unifying themes.""—Ernest Sosa, Rutgers University, USA"

Rescher's masterly corpus is legendary in its scope and volume. This collection focuses on issues prompted by his avowed pragmatism. Philosophers who have long studied and commented on Rescher's work have been asked to share this focus, which results in a welcome avenue to understanding pragmatism, as well as Rescher's system and its unifying themes. -Ernest Sosa, Rutgers University, USA

Author Information

Sami Pihlström is Director of the Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies and Professor of Philosophy of Religion at the University of Helsinki, Finland.

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