Episode #142 - Richard Rorty
Richard Rorty
In this episode, the show explores the political philosophy of Richard Rorty, focusing on his rejection of universal, ahistorical foundations for ideas like human rights and liberal democracy. Rather than grounding these values in divine will or rational truths, Rorty sees them as contingent products of specific historical and cultural contexts. He argues that reason is not a tool for uncovering objective reality, but a human practice shaped by language and culture—a means of fostering solidarity rather than accessing eternal truths. Embracing the legacy of the Enlightenment as a call to question authority rather than to establish it, Rorty champions a pragmatic, pluralistic approach to politics. He encourages living as an “ironist”—someone who is critically aware of the limits of their own worldview and remains open to new vocabularies and perspectives. Ultimately, the episode highlights Rorty’s belief that legitimacy in political life comes not from philosophical absolutes, but from the shared values and decisions of people living together in particular times and places.
Further Reading:
Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity by Richard Rorty (1989)
Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature by Richard Rorty (1979)
Richard Rorty: Politics and Vision by Christopher J. Voparil (2006)
See the full transcript here
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