Lexington Books Rorty and Beyond

For better or worse, Rorty has shaped the trajectory of academic philosophy. A decade after his passing, his legacy is ever present, especially in context of the growth of the far right, the struggle over the meaning of justice and equity, and the ecological crises we face. Edited by Randall Auxier, Eli Kramer, and Krzysztof Piotr Skowroński, Rorty and Beyond brings together leading international philosophers from the United States and Europe to reevaluate Rorty's legacy and explore what lies beyond his life and work. This collection covers a diverse territory, exploring Rorty's legacy regarding theories of truth, accounts of nature and naturalism, the historical situation of professional philosophy, the private and public aspects of religion, the place of literature in cultural politics, and points beyond Rorty, such as what we may hope for after his critical attack on certainty and ultimacy. Scholars, specialists, and those new to Rorty will all find insight, useful criticism, and edification in this volume. Review "One more book on Rorty? This one proves, among other things, the richness of his legacy. It situates Rorty historically, philosophically, politically, and culturally into the contexts of his own era, but also beyond. The conversation must go on--either approvingly or polemically. Since Richard Rorty was like 'The Freddie Mercury of Philosophy: ' original, influential, provocative... A transitional figure to much more imaginative art of philosophizing. Read this book and you will get further incentives to read Rorty himself!"--Emil Visniovsky, Comenius University and Slovack Academy--Emil Visňovský, Comenius University & Slovak Academy of Sciences "This admirable collection of essays by eighteen transatlantic scholars presents Richard Rorty as at once both seminal and transitional, pragmatist and post-pragmatist, philosopher and anti-philosopher. Readers will find excellent analyses of his much debated concept of irony, his critique of religion, and even his own credentials as member of the group he termed 'we liberals.' The essays present fresh insights into the underlying tensions in Rorty's work, as well as his key contributions to 20th century philosophy."--Larry A. Hickman, Souther Illinois University, Carbondale--Larry A. Hickman, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale This rich collection of essays not only demonstrates Rorty's lasting influence in virtually all fields of philosophy and more general cultural discussion but also makes a serious contribution to philosophical and post-philosophical inquiry both in dialogue with and moving 'beyond' Rorty, transforming Rortyan neopragmatism into a 'post-Rortyan' on-going conversation. Some of the best experts on Rorty and pragmatism explore Rortyan and post-Rortyan topics such as secularism, social hope, normativity, naturalism, ethnocentrism, (anti)representationalism, and truth, as well as philosophical engagements with literature and politics. This book considerably widens our horizon of pragmatism, no matter whether we admire Rorty or criticize him.--Sami Pihlström, University of Helsinki About the Author Randall Auxier is professor of philosophy and communication studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and a regular visiting professor in the Institute of Philosophy at the University of Warsaw. Eli Kramer is assistant professor of philosophy of culture at the Institute of Philosophy, University of Warsaw. Krzysztof (Chris) Piotr Skowroński, PhD, teaches contemporary philosophy, rhetoric and persuasion, and multiculturalism at the University of Opole, Poland.