The Putnam-Rorty Debate and the Pragmatist Revival

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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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[BlackSabotage100]

I watched American Philosopher and did not see this segment there.

[americanphilosopher]

Well, American Philosopher exists in several different forms, a 57 minute video exhibited in 2007, a 1:11 minute updated version uploaded both in segments and in its entirety since 2011, and an ongoing project that consists of short films like this one, culled from the interviews with additional material. (This one is technically American Philosopher #9. #11 is coming soon.) Although there are some overlaps, I try to avoid excessive duplication. Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[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.)

[grezgorztube]

That's more or less what my prof was telling me

[grezgorztube]

I see philosophy as the active desire to search for wisdom and to propagate wisdom. This ancient Greek idea of the philosopher as the friend and lover of wisdom, who is a politically active and physically healthy and strong person does not cease in its appeal to me. This tendency for philosophers to get sucked into their own little academic worlds where they get lost in theoretical debates over details I find to be out of touch with some kind of concern for the health of broader society.

[sjc1017]

This is purely a personal view but for me what philosophy provides that other disciplines do not, is a language for dealing with the emergence of meaning and conditions of sense, and for how individuals find themselves situated in relation to forms which determine their access to ways of being. It offers a way to express certain statuses like belief and cynicism and to talk about why people exhibit the sense of forms they find themselves existing via. That's why I read philosophy.

[Dystisis]

"...infinite reinterpretability of the Golden Gate bridge..." What is actually meant? Nonsense! So much discussion over uses of language that are foreign to actual, ordinary uses of language that are effective. What is needed for the disintegration of all philosophical theories, including those of Rorty, can be found in the works of Wittgenstein.

[HappyWithWhatsThere]

Putnam represents....about 7 different distinct philosophical viewpoints throughout his career lol.

[slipperyweasel1]

5:58 onwards- Thank you Rorty, a great definition of what philosophy is and means to study.

[astroboomboy]

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.