Richard Rorty's Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity - Video 1: Introduction

(New version with LOUDER AUDIO.)

In this series, we will discuss Richard Rorty's 1989 book "Contingency, Irony and Solidarity". The main purpose of that book is to paint the picture of a new type of intellectual, the liberal ironist, and to persuade us that we want to be like that picture.

One essential characteristic of the liberal ironist is that she understands that even her own deepest convictions are contingent: they are the end result of a historical process that could also have gone in a completely different direct, and they do not reflect some fundamental nature of reality or human beings. Another essential characteristic of the liberal ironist is that she doesn't try to bring together her own public desire for solidarity and her own private projects of self-creation.

"Contingency, Irony and Solidarity" is an essential book in the development of Rorty's philosophy, and a classic of 20th century anti-metaphysical thought.

[scotimages]

As somebody who reads philosophy books but has no formal education in philosophy I thank you for this extremely clear exposition on a book that I own. At times like these I wish I had a teacher of your calibre.

[echo-hxzt]

Thank you for posting these. You have a real talent for communicating difficult ideas. I hope you find the time to keep making videos.

[jgcaba]

I love how you’re communicating to a new generation the wonderful work of Richard Rorty

[disorderinprogress]

I'm really happy and enthusiastic about this series of videos!
One of my favorite books explained by my favorite philosophy professor on YouTube.
Thanks Victor!

[VictorGijsbers]

The original two videos of this series had very low audio volume. I've managed to raise the volume and have re-uploaded them. Sorry for the inconvenience to people who had saved the previous version or had placed comments. Unfortunately, YouTube doesn't allow you to raise the audio levels of videos already uploaded.

[derbucherwurm]

great introduction to Richard Rortys Contigency, Irony and Solidarity!

[mirzaardi]

Finally, I find your channel. Subscribed !!!

[KommentarSpaltenKrieger]

interesting introduction. one thing that strikes me is this: given there is no necessary human nature - this premise seems to be treated here as if there is no human nature or no fixed human nature. But these premises don't follow from the first, do they? Even contingencies might be constant, and if they are, what results from them (particular human conditions or natures in plural) will also be constant. Let's say, someone is solidaric or stingy due to circumstances of their life - doesn't mean it's necessarily the case they are the way they are, but it also doesn't mean they can change it at will. Maybe they even can't at all. Both can be true - or do I get something wrong?

[MohamedSaid-euof]

Denying existence of human nature is simply embracing neitzchean foucauldian philosophy!!!