Pragmatism: A Guide for the Perplexed

Guides for the Perplexed

by Robert B. Talisse, Scott F. Aikin

The recent revival of interest in pragmatism has reintroduced into mainstream philosophy the insights and arguments of great American philosophers such as C.S. Peirce, William James and John Dewey. But it has also led to the use of the term 'pragmatism' in a huge variety of contexts, such that students and readers can find this fascinating subject confusing.
A Guide for the Perplexed seeks to dispel some of the ambiguity surrounding the term 'pragmatism'. The book offers a clear and thorough account of this important philosophical movement. Thematically structured, it lays out the historical development and surveys the key thinkers. Crucially, it concentrates on the ways in which pragmatists, both contemporary and historical, have attempted to address some of the most important problems in philosophy. Geared towards the specific requirements of students who need to have a sound understanding of pragmatism, the book serves as an ideal companion to study of this most important and influential of movements.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 9, 2008

About the author

Robert B. Talisse is W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. His central research area is democratic theory, where he pursues issues concerning legitimacy, justice, and public political argumentation.

A native of New Jersey, Talisse earned his PhD in Philosophy at the City University of New York Graduate Center in 2001. He is the author of more than 100 scholarly articles and 13 academic books. He is also the host of two academic podcasts Why We Argue and New Books in Philosophy. With his frequent collaborator Scott Aikin, Talisse also writes a monthly column at the site 3 Quarks Daily.

Reviews

[path · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice overview of the different strands of American pragmatism as it pulls through different issues to which a “pragmatic” lens has been turned.

As a text designed to introduce readers to pragmatism and to disassociate it from the more common usage of the term (i.e., being equivalent to “practical”) it is successful. It’s a bit dry at times, but I appreciate the authors’ directness and editorial choice to introduce different pragmatic approaches to questions of metaphysics, epistemology, democracy, and ethics while also showing how those perspectives are problematic. Having both an understanding of the aims of pragmatism (i.e., what matters most is what bears on practice) and the conflicts associated with its application makes it possible to engage in pragmatic reasoning and to see how the philosophy applies.

One of the concepts that I find most intriguing is belief. In some ways, it is at the heart of pragmatism because it is on the basis of beliefs that we engage in action. We act in the ways that we do because we are guided by our belief in either what is desirable, or what is right, or what is efficient, etc. Those beliefs are personally held but we act on them in the context of everyone else acting on their beliefs. Beliefs rooted in a common or shared understanding keep alignment with one another. Those that are not may conflict with others … or they may never conflict and this is one of those points where strands of pragmatism diverge. If one is interested in the pursuit of Truth then right action always requires a reorientation of belief toward an improved sense of the ideal at which it is aimed. To those for whom the truth is “what works” then it is possible to continue on indefinitely.

I have a feeling I’m going to want to read more William James on belief and religion. I’d also like to get more into Dewey but, Holy Jeebus, that dude wrote a lot!

[Arthur Gailes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dry, but fairly thorough review of the subject. Unlike most books like this, Talisse eschews metaphors and anecdotes and simply covers the logical cases of many varieties of pragmatism. The strongest piece of the book is Talisse's coverage not just of pragmatism, but also of its drawbacks and critics. None of the chapters feel like they resolve the issues at hand, which is a refreshingly honest choice.