Full Idea
If we cannot check our language against non-linguistic awareness, then philosophy can never be more than a discussion of the utility and compatibility of beliefs - and, more particularly, of the various vocabularies in which those beliefs are formulated.
Gist of Idea
If we can't check our language against experience, philosophy is just comparing beliefs and words
Source
Richard Rorty (Brandom on Social Practices and Representations [1998], iii.127), quoted by Danielle Macbeth - Pragmatism and Objective Truth p.178
Book Reference
'New Pragmatists', ed/tr. Misak,Cheryl [OUP 2009], p.178
A Reaction
I'm amazed at how many people I encounter in philosophy circles (compared with none at all outside those circles) who seem to think that we cannot check our language against our non-linguistic awareness. Rorty is their guru. Weird.