I have to admit I don't recall any details about this book. I didn't have the background to understand it. ( )

12/11/21

Wonderful book. Almost a year after reading it, I find myself still reflecting on the concepts. Excellent. ( )

Ultimately, I don't find Rorty's attempt to redescribe the world in new language to be terribly compelling. Since he provides no criteria for choosing between languages, it would seem that his failure to move me is sufficient for me to ignore his philosophical thinking. That's not to say that this book isn't worth reading. It's clearly written, and it might be useful for those who find themselves adrift in a sea of uncertainty or those who uncritically harbor faith in transcendent truth. It's just that some of the shine has worn off a bit as time has passed; what may have been new ideas at the time have receded into the canon of dead metaphors. ( )

Obama's win inspired me to reread this book of pragmatic ideas, a favorite. Too bad Rorty didn't live to see his victory, not simply because our next President is an African American (which itself represents a liberal utopian ideal), but because Obama, in his actual speech, is a shift from cowboy cliches to liberal intellectualism. I'm hopeful that Obama will continue to redescribe America, as Rorty might say, rather than falling into old, ineffective ways of talking about things that matter to us all. ( )