Foundationalism, Representationalism, and Truth: The Debate Between Haack and Rorty

Abstract

This thesis defends Rorty’s neo-pragmatism from the criticism of fellow pragmatist Susan Haack. Rortian neo-pragmatism threatens to undermine Haack’s own theory of justification, foundherentism, which Haack argues is superior to foundationalism and coherentism. Haack claims that Rorty, first, has no good arguments against epistemology and, second, proffers an unappealing alternative. I suggest that Rorty does have a good argument against epistemology, and that that argument is exemplified by a closer look at Haack’s notion of “ratification”. Ratification becomes a self-imposed standard which Haack is unable to achieve. Understanding the motivations which cause Haack to pursue ratification requires an investigation of truth. I explicate in some detail Rorty’s conception of truth and contrast it with Haack’s interpretation of his position. I develop this reading by marrying Rorty’s earlier and later discussions on the matter, and conclude by suggesting ways to develop Rorty’s approach further. The result is a minimal account of truth that avoids the pitfalls of Haack’s reading, and an approach to epistemology that bypasses the need for ratification and the worries of the epistemological sceptic.«br /»