Overview

"In 1997 and 1998, the American secular philosopher Richard Rorty published a set of predictions about the twenty-first century ranging from the years 2014-95. He predicted, for instance, the election of a """"strong man"""" in the 2016 presidential race and the proliferation of gun violence starting in 2014. He labels the years from 2014-44 the darkest years of American history, politics, and society. From 2045-95, Rorty thinks his own vision for """"social hope"""" will be implemented within American society--a vision that includes charity (in the Pauline sense), solidarity, and sympathy. Rorty considers himself a leftist, liberal, and a philosopher of hope. So why would a philosopher of hope predict such darkness and despair? In The Dark Years? Philosophy, Politics, and the Problem of Predictions philosopher and political theorist Jacob L. Goodson explains the fullness of Rorty's predictions, the problem of making predictions within the social sciences, and the reasons why even Rorty's vision for life after the """"dark years"""" fails us on the standards of hope. Goodson argues that we ought to challenge the monopoly that American politics has as our object of hope. Goodson makes the case for a melancholic yet redemptive hope."

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9781532653896

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"""As a prophetic voice among leftists, Richard Rorty foresaw how the 'culture wars' polarized and paralyzed democratic politics. Jacob Goodson offers a sympathetic account of Rorty's sincere regrets over the 'academic Left' and its focus on identity politics rather than capitalism's victims. During the 1990s, Rorty predicted America's descent into tribalism, a 'strongman' president, mass violence, a second Great Depression, and capitalism's disbanding of democracy. This book must be read by anyone hoping that philosophy can re-awaken to its responsibility for our collective welfare."" --John Shook, University at Buffalo, New York ""Certainly scholars will find Jacob Goodson's The Dark Years? is a provocative reading that brings together insights regarding Richard Rorty's philosophy of religion and political philosophy in novel ways. However, this work does so much more! As a meditation on the significance of hope--even when hope appears in its most melancholic timbre--Goodson provides readers a vision of political imagination that goes beyond simplistic trust in contemporary politics or rejection of civic participation."" --Adam Pryor, Bethany College ""The most comprehensive and insightful treatment to date of 'the philosopher who predicted Trump, ' this timely and important book speaks to vital issues of our day--populism, authoritarianism, neoliberalism, hope and fear, sympathy and shame. In lively prose, Goodson interprets Rorty's prophetic writings on religion and politics as charting a course for America to exit its dark years, revealing an undiscovered Rorty committed to a Christian love ethic of charity and justice."" --Chris Voparil, Union Institute & University ""Goodson's adept and prophetic critique of Rorty's predictions of 'the dark years' moves beyond Rorty's far future focus on 'social hope' to advocate a rejection of neo-liberalism in favor of a much-needed melancholic, pedagogical, and redemptive hope in the here and now."" --Ann W. Duncan, Center for Geographies of Justice, Goucher College"

As a prophetic voice among leftists, Richard Rorty foresaw how the 'culture wars' polarized and paralyzed democratic politics. Jacob Goodson offers a sympathetic account of Rorty's sincere regrets over the 'academic Left' and its focus on identity politics rather than capitalism's victims. During the 1990s, Rorty predicted America's descent into tribalism, a 'strongman' president, mass violence, a second Great Depression, and capitalism's disbanding of democracy. This book must be read by anyone hoping that philosophy can re-awaken to its responsibility for our collective welfare. --John Shook, University at Buffalo, New York Certainly scholars will find Jacob Goodson's The Dark Years? is a provocative reading that brings together insights regarding Richard Rorty's philosophy of religion and political philosophy in novel ways. However, this work does so much more! As a meditation on the significance of hope--even when hope appears in its most melancholic timbre--Goodson provides readers a vision of political imagination that goes beyond simplistic trust in contemporary politics or rejection of civic participation. --Adam Pryor, Bethany College The most comprehensive and insightful treatment to date of 'the philosopher who predicted Trump, ' this timely and important book speaks to vital issues of our day--populism, authoritarianism, neoliberalism, hope and fear, sympathy and shame. In lively prose, Goodson interprets Rorty's prophetic writings on religion and politics as charting a course for America to exit its dark years, revealing an undiscovered Rorty committed to a Christian love ethic of charity and justice. --Chris Voparil, Union Institute & University Goodson's adept and prophetic critique of Rorty's predictions of 'the dark years' moves beyond Rorty's far future focus on 'social hope' to advocate a rejection of neo-liberalism in favor of a much-needed melancholic, pedagogical, and redemptive hope in the here and now. --Ann W. Duncan, Center for Geographies of Justice, Goucher College

As a prophetic voice among leftists, Richard Rorty foresaw how the 'culture wars' polarized and paralyzed democratic politics. Jacob Goodson offers a sympathetic account of Rorty's sincere regrets over the 'academic Left' and its focus on identity politics rather than capitalism's victims. During the 1990s, Rorty predicted America's descent into tribalism, a 'strongman' president, mass violence, a second Great Depression, and capitalism's disbanding of democracy. This book must be read by anyone hoping that philosophy can re-awaken to its responsibility for our collective welfare. --John Shook, University at Buffalo, New York Certainly scholars will find Jacob Goodson's The Dark Years? is a provocative reading that brings together insights regarding Richard Rorty's philosophy of religion and political philosophy in novel ways. However, this work does so much more! As a meditation on the significance of hope--even when hope appears in its most melancholic timbre--Goodson provides readers a vision of political imagination that goes beyond simplistic trust in contemporary politics or rejection of civic participation. --Adam Pryor, Bethany College The most comprehensive and insightful treatment to date of 'the philosopher who predicted Trump, ' this timely and important book speaks to vital issues of our day--populism, authoritarianism, neoliberalism, hope and fear, sympathy and shame. In lively prose, Goodson interprets Rorty's prophetic writings on religion and politics as charting a course for America to exit its dark years, revealing an undiscovered Rorty committed to a Christian love ethic of charity and justice. --Chris Voparil, Union Institute & University Goodson's adept and prophetic critique of Rorty's predictions of 'the dark years' moves beyond Rorty's far future focus on 'social hope' to advocate a rejection of neo-liberalism in favor of a much-needed melancholic, pedagogical, and redemptive hope in the here and now. --Ann W. Duncan, Center for Geographies of Justice, Goucher College

Author Information

Jacob L. Goodson is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. This book serves as a sequel to Strength of Mind: Courage, Hope, Freedom, Knowledge (Cascade, 2018).

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