The Putnam-Rorty Debate and the Pragmatist Revival

American Pragmatism was, if not dead, at least on life support until revived by the debate between Hilary Putnam and Richard Rorty on truth, warrant, and reality. (At least according to some of these philosophers.) [From "American Philosopher", a film by Phillip McReynolds]

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• richard rorty
• hilary putnam
• pragmatism
• philosophy
• phillip mcreynolds
• american philosopher
• progress
• John Dewey
• interviews
• relativism

[americanphilosopher]

Hi David. Thanks for the comment. I'll check out your book. You have a new one on Dewey too, right? (Everyone interested in this should also check out Talisse's recent article where he challenges the very idea that pragmatism was ever eclipsed, as well as vimeo.com/americanphilosopher/­thefilm.)

[Rorty00]

4:50 Putnam is right when he says the old questions are still with us, but I don't think they are with us in the same way. We DO have a deeper insight into the problems, but this isn't the same as getting closer to SOLVING the probs.

[fede2]

so rorty became very po-mo at the end.

[astroboomboy]

@Rorty00 That is exactly what he is saying. Putnam does believe in development in the sciences, but he does not think our descriptions are the only way to describe the world. Our answers to questions are based to a certain degree on where we stand and the needs we have. We aren't solving problems, but we are discovering ways that can solve problems.

[Sokrateles]

Die Schnitte sind gut gelungen, d. h. der Kontrast Putnam/Rorty wird ganz gut dargestellt. Es ist schwierig Philosophie mit filmischen Mitteln zu transportieren. Hier ist das gelungen.

[hilde45]

This is a great piece of film from a talented philosopher and filmmaker. By the way, if anyone's interested in a book length analysis of the Putnam-Rorty debate, I'd be honored if you looked at my book, Beyond Realism and Antirealism: John Dewey and the Neopragmatists.

[foxermcbride]

@elitile 

[foxermcbride]

@elitile -- My comment was poorly worded. Another (hopefully clearer) way of saying it: "He follows the approach of Davidson in rejecting the correspondence theory of truth." In this respect Rorty is a Davidson groupie!