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Full Idea
Pragmatism is perhaps the worst idea that philosophy ever had.
Gist of Idea
Pragmatism is the worst idea ever
Source
Jerry A. Fodor (LOT 2 [2008], Ch.1)
Book Ref
Fodor,Jerry A.: 'LOT 2: the Language of Thought Revisited' [OUP 2008], p.9
A Reaction
Not an argument, but an interesting sign of the times. Most major modern American philosophers, such as Quine, seem to fit some loose label of 'pragmatist'. I always smell a feeble relativism, and a refusal to face the interesting questions.
1890 | We distinguish ambiguities by seeing what is useful [Sext.Empiricus] |
14794 | Instead of seeking Truth, we should seek belief that is beyond doubt [Peirce] |
14795 | Pragmatism is a way of establishing meanings, not a theory of metaphysics or a set of truths [Peirce] |
18989 | Pragmatism accepts any hypothesis which has useful consequences [James] |
6441 | Pragmatism judges by effects, but I judge truth by causes [Russell] |
13937 | New linguistic claims about entities are not true or false, but just expedient, fruitful or successful [Carnap] |
24214 | Pragmatists are right that science is action on nature - but it must be methodical [Weil] |
12625 | Pragmatism is the worst idea ever [Fodor] |
4746 | Pragmatism is better understood as a theory of belief than as a theory of truth [Engel] |