Document Type : Original Article
Abstract
As an analytic philosopher in postmodern thought who has pragmatic views on vocabulary and language, Rorty deconstructs various problems of philosophy. Hence, he questions the entire traditional epistemology with all its categories (such as Truth, objectivity, wisdom, etc). In his opinion, traditional philosophers (Plato, Descartes and Kant) believed in ahistorical and ahumanistic realities (such as Truth, good, God, etc), considering human beings as a servant and discoverers of eternal reality. Against these opinions, Rorty suggest the issue of solidarity; in other words, pragmatic agreements on the various issues are influenced by norms of private society. Rorty believes that if we confine the relationship between self and world, we will accept the idea that it is us who give the world a meaning by making new vocabulary – and apart from this vocabulary which are instruments of coping with environment, there is no reality. In this new paradigm, we think by creating Truth instead of solidarity to human-like creatures of their environment, indeed those who overcome the environment are not like those who are at the service of the supreme creature. These instruments will help us to reinforce solidarity among human beings in order to move in the direction of a justice-oriented and free society which is far from any discrimination and suffering. Thus Truth will show itself in dynamisms of that society. Rorty looks for problem of traditional epistemology in attracting of realistic approach to various problems of philosophy. So he is an anti-realist philosopher who explains various philosophical concepts including the traditional concept of Truth. He suggests replacing the traditional concept of Truth (which is based on correspondence theory of Truth) with the concept of solidarity – and claims that there is nothing to suggest that the concept of solidarity has realistic elements and that solidarity (like other concepts made by mankind) is based on pragmatic interests. This article attempts to examine Rorty's claims.
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