Philosophy, Literature, Politics

Abstract

AbstractRichard Rorty wishes philosophy to turn away from traditional epistemological ideals of reason, truth, and objectivity and devote itself instead to ‘continuing the conversation of the West’. He celebrates the achievements of ‘abnormal’ philosophical discourse, represented for example by Heidegger and (the later) Wittgenstein. The Oxford philosopher R. G. Collingwood is an exact contemporary of the two thinkers just mentioned and shares Rorty’s contrarian and historicist attitude, as well as his interest in the status of philosophy as a branch of literature. On the other hand, Collingwood looks like a clear case of allegiance to the teleological and rationalist values which Rorty challenges. This essay explores some worrying implications—for political engagement as well as for pure theory—of replacing the rationalist conception of philosophy with a Rorty-style successor that would no longer conceive of itself as engaged in (truth-orientated) ‘enquiry’.