Richard Bernstein examines the works of Gadamer, Habermas, Rorty, and Arendt. He focuses on some controversies to demonstrate changes in the discussion of human rationality. This goes beyond the traditional notions of reason, whether objective or not, expanding understanding and emphasizing its practical character. For example, in discussing Gadamer, Bernstein noted how he uses the concept of "play" to establish "an order" for the work of art. This is used in developing an ontology of art, i.e. what is their ontological status? How are works of art related to us and we to them? The work of art is not complete without the spectator (reader, listener, looker). This is perhaps easiest to imagine in the case of drama when the audience interacts, knowingly or not, with the actors in the process of the production of the work of art. For Gadamer "a work of art is seen as an event (or being). Understanding must be conceived as a part of the process of the coming into being of meaning." ( )

This book is about the possibilities of objective knowledge today in the sciences and in society. Bernstein encapsulates complex philosophical contributions by Gadamer, Habermas and a number of more scientifically inclined philosophers in a compact book with remarkable skill and clarity. If you're looking to expand your philosophical perspective on science and society, this book will definitely point you in a good direction.

What's the best way to navigate between and beyond the Scylla of objectivism and the Charybdis of relativism? The author has assembled a fine crew of Kuhn, Gadamer, and Arendt to show you the ropes. Good introductions to philosophy of science with Thomas Kuhn, hermeneutics with Hans-Georg Gadamer, and practical wisdom (praxis) with Hannah Arendt. ( )