Description
Book SynopsisReinventing Pragmatism examines the force of the new pragmatisms, from the emergence of Rorty's and Putnam's basic disagreements of the 1970s until the turn of the century.
Trade Review"In this often brilliant treatment of the first- and second-wave pragmatists, Joseph Margolis displays a knack for weaving together a complex history and an important contemporary philosophical debate. Margolis's analyses are bold, original, and intellectually exciting. He has succeeded in spinning out a narrative that is both insightful and entertaining." -- Armen T. Marsoobian, Professor of Philosophy, Southern Connecticut State University, and Editor in Chief, Metaphilosophy
"Margolis's account of pragmatism's relation to modern philosophy is useful and illuminating." -- John McGowan, University of North Carolina, Perspectives on Politics 2:1, March 2004
"Reinventing Pragmatism is a memorable, intelligent, and stylish book. Joseph Margolis puts his finger on the central nerve in the conflict between Richard Rorty and Hilary Putnam." -- Russell Goodman, University of New Mexico
"With this book, Joseph Margolis steps into the fray over what the revival of pragmatism should entail, and how it may best confront current realist trends.... There is much in Margolis's work that resonates well with current sociological approaches to knowledge and belief... and it would be interesting to see just how Margolis's relativism might be of use in providing philosophical cover for the sociology of knowledge." -- Rod Nelson, McGill University, Contemporary Sociology 33:2
Table of ContentsPrologue: Reconstruction in pragmatism -- Cartesian realism and the revival of pragmatism -- Richard Rorty : philosophy by other means -- Anticipating Dewey's advantage -- John Dewey : the metaphysics of existence -- Relativism, pragmatism, and realism -- Last word : a touch of prophecy.
