Description: This book provides the first comprehensive account of classical and contemporary pragmatism's attacks on traditional epistemology. Douglas McDermid deals critically and at length with the influential and fashionable brand of neo-pragmatism advanced by Richard Rorty (1931-). Written in a lucid and engaging style, the book is set to become a classic in its field.
Brief description: Douglas McDermid teaches philosophy at Trent University, Canada. He has published more than a dozen articles in various philosophical journals.
Review Quotes:
"McDermid offers a defense of pragmatist arguments against a realist epistemology and the correspondence theory of truth-that a statement is true if and only if it mirrors reality-by briefly examining the arguments of classical writers such as William James, F.C.S. Schiller, and John Dewey, and of neopragmatists Donald Davidson, Hillary Putnam, and Richard Rorty. The volume consists of eight chapters in two sections: "Pragmatism and the Correspondence Theory of Truth" outlines some important pragmatist arguments for and against realism and the correspondence theory; "Neo Pragmatism and Epistemology" defends epistemological realism by challenging the pragmatist arguments for a coherence theory, and Rorty's pragmatist credentials. The epilogue presents a Platonic myth in which the author defends philosophy, objectivity, and reason. Three short appendixes follow on Rorty's conception of truth, Putnam's and Kant's views on the coherence theory, and James's and Dewey's criticisms of the correspondence theory. A general bibliography lists classical and contemporary works to 2003...the book assumes a mastery of the field." --Choice Reviews
""... One could hardly find a better introduction to its subject matter or a more judicious treatment of its themes. It is also a pleasure to read." Ernest Sosa, Brown University" --Blurb from reviewer