After the demise of the tradition : Rorty, critical theory, and the fate of philosophy

Addressing the "end-of-philosophy" debate and the challenge it presents to contemporary philosophy, this book draws on Wittgenstein, Quine, Davidson, Habermas and Foucault, among others. It develops the implications of Richard Rorty's arguments in particular and provides a response: the development of a holistic, anti-foundationalist account of philosophy that engages critical theory and wide reflective equilibrium in carving out a positive role for a new kind of philosophy. PART I: THE TRADITION......Page 2 1. Subjecting the Tradition to Stress......Page 3 2. Rorty and the Self-Image of Philosophy......Page 14 3. How to Be Skeptical About Philosophy......Page 25 4. The Tradition in Retreat......Page 37 5. On Being Ontologically Unserious......Page 54 6. Wittgenstein, Wittgensteinians, and the End of Philosophy......Page 88 PART II: NEW DIRECTIONS......Page 120 7. Can There Be Progress in Philosophy?......Page 121 8. Scientism, Pragmatism, and the Fate of Philosophy......Page 158 9. Searching for an Emancipatory Perspective: Wide Reflective Equilibrium and the Hermeneutical Circle......Page 189 10. Wide Reflective Equilibrium and the Transformation of Philosophy......Page 211 11. In Defense of Wide Reflective Equilibrium......Page 225 Notes......Page 243 Index......Page 264 Kai Nielsen. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 249-269) And Index.