Truth, Politics, Morality

by Cheryl Misak

Cheryl Misak argues that truth ought to be reinstated to a central position in moral and political philosophy. She argues that the correct account of truth is one found in a certain kind of a true belief is one upon which inquiry could not improve, a belief which would not be defeated by experience and argument. This account is not only an improvement on the views of central figures such as Rawls and Habermas, but it can also make sense of the idea that, despite conflict, pluralism, and the expression of difference, our moral and political beliefs aim at truth and can be subject to criticism.
Anyone interested in a fresh discussion of political theory and philosophy will find this a fascinating read.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics

195 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Mark Crawford]

This rediscovery of the original project of pragmatism is highly illuminating for anyone who is unfamiliar with this school of thought, or who mistakenly thinks that Richard Rorty represents the best or most developed version of this philosophy. It is essentially an essay on epistemology (truth) with special application to moral and political deliberations.

The picture that neo-Peirceans like Cheryl Misak and Robert Talisse paint is that modern philosophy has been unfortunately dichotomized between objectivist and relativistic approaches to truth during the twentieth century, and that a resolution of sorts can be achieved by returning to the early (original) pragmatism of C.S. Peirce.

[Siavash]

Nice read. Clear writing. Lots of new things to learn. One thing i still don't get though...whats the diff btw truth qualifiers fruitfully as it can go, and community of inquirers and the end of inquiry.