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Work #1083 · Mid

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

Richard Rorty
1991 · English
Philosophical essay collection · Neo-pragmatism

Rorty's 1991 collected essays — solidarity displaces objectivity as the proper epistemic norm

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth (Mid)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Active
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Community
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Variable
Information · Personal Conservation Variable
Information · Granularity Discrete

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

The 1980s essays — post-positivist turn in American philosophy.

Space

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

American academic philosophy and the trans-Atlantic conversation.

Matter

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

The natural-scientific world treated naturalistically.

Observer

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

The community of inquirers as collective epistemic subject.

Energy

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

The intellectual energies of the post-foundationalist moment.

Information

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

The conversational content of inquiry.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Objectivity, Relativism, and Truth

The position has been variously assessed — defenders read it as proper post-foundationalism, critics (Putnam, McDowell, Habermas) see it as conflating truth and warranted assertibility.