ABSTRACT

The Two Pragmatisms - From Peirce to Rorty maps the main movements within the pragmatist tradition. Two distinct forms of pragmatism are identified, that of Peirce and that of the `second' pragmatism stemming from James' interpretation of Peirce and seen in the work of Dewey and above all Rorty. Both the influential work of Rorty and the way in which he has transformed contemporary philosophy's understanding of pragmatism are clearly explained.
The Two Pragmatisms - From Peirce to Rorty is essential reading for those interested in the history of this increasingly influential movement, whether first-time philosophers or more advanced readers.

chapter |2 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|13 pages

Peirce: the theory of signs

chapter 3|17 pages

Peirce: Pragmatism and William James 43

chapter 4|17 pages

Peirce: metaphysics and cosmology

chapter 6|15 pages

James: ‘The Will to Believe’

chapter 9|14 pages

Dewey: philosophy and Empiricism

chapter 10|17 pages

Dewey: Radical Empiricism

chapter 11|18 pages

Rorty: the mirror of nature

chapter 12|17 pages

Rorty: hermeneutics and irony

chapter 13|19 pages

Rorty: the history of philosophy