Pragmatism and Objectivity: Essays Sparked by the Work of Nicholas Rescher

by Sami Pihlström (Editor)

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367595371
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/30/2020
Series:	Routledge Studies in American Philosophy
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

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

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

Foreword Cheryl Misak ix

Introduction Sami Pihlstrom 1

Part I Truth and Reality 5

1 Pragmatic Realism, Idealism, and Pluralism: A Rescherian Balance? Sami Pihlström 7

2 Pragmatism and Metaphilosophy Scott F. Aikin Robert B. Talisse 31

3 Prospects for an Objective Pragmatism: Frank Ramsey on Truth, Meaning, and Justification Griffin Klemick 46

4 Pragmatism and Science Robert Almeder 72

5 Is Kant a Confused Pragmatist? Tom Rockmore 98

6 Toward a More Peircean Version of Pragmatic Realism Vincent Colapietro 113

Part II Reasoning 131

7 Ramsey's Theory of Belief and the Problem of Attitude Divergence Jessica J. R. Wright 133

8 Concrete Reasonableness and Pragmatist Ideals: Peirce and Rescher on Normative Theory Rosa Mayorga 150

9 Obliquely about Realism: The State of Play of a Minor Affair Joseph Margolis 169

Part III Value 195

10 Rescherean Pragmatism Joseph C. Pitt 197

11 Pragmatism and the Inseparability of Objectivity and Solidarity: Rescher on Rhetorical Rationality, Method, and Cooperative Interaction Helmut Pape 205

12 Psychology of Desire and the Pragmatics of Betterment Timo Airaksinen 223

13 From Method to Medicine: A Pragmatist Approach to Bioethics Diana B. Heney 239

14 Moral Responsibility and the Cognitive Status of Ethical Ideals John R. Shook 254

List of Contributors 277

Index 279

Editorial 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

From the Publisher