Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature: Thirtieth-Anniversary Edition [Paperback]

Richard Rorty (Author), Michael Williams (Introduction), David Bromwich (Afterword)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2008

When it first appeared in 1979, Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature hit the philosophical world like a bombshell. In it, Richard Rorty argued that, beginning in the seventeenth century, philosophers developed an unhealthy obsession with the notion of representation: comparing the mind to a mirror that reflects reality. Rorty's book is a powerful critique of this imagery and the tradition of thought that it spawned.

Thirty years later, the book remains a must-read and stands as a classic of twentieth-century philosophy. Its influence on the academy, both within philosophy and across a wide array of disciplines, continues unabated. This edition includes new essays by philosopher Michael Williams and literary scholar David Bromwich, as well as Rorty's previously unpublished essay "The Philosopher as Expert."

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Princeton's original edition: "This is an ambitious and important book. Ambitious because it attempts to place the main concerns and discussions of contemporary philosophy within a historical perspective; important because this is all too rarely attempted within our present philosophical culture, and almost never done this well. -- Charles Taylor, Times Literary Supplement

Praise for Princeton's previous edition: "[Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature] is . . . something of an event. . . . It is going to be a long time before a better book of its kind appears. -- Alasdair MacIntyre, London Review of Books

Praise for Princeton's original edition: "Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature brings to light the deep sense of crisis within the profession of academic philosophy. . . . Rorty's provocative and profound meditations impel philosophers to examine the problematic status of their discipline--only to discover that modern European philosophy has come to an end. -- Cornel West, Union Seminary Quarterly Review

About the Author

Richard Rorty (1931-2007) was a prolific philosopher and public intellectual who, throughout his illustrious career, taught at Princeton, the University of Virginia, and, until his death, Stanford University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; 30 Anv edition (December 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691141320
• ISBN-13: 978-0691141329
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,567 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rejuvenated My Interest in Philosophy, January 14, 2010

By 

Anonscribe (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature: Thirtieth-Anniversary Edition (Paperback)

While certain aspects of this book will be unintelligible to those lacking a technical education (like me) in American analytic philosophy--or to those who've never read Sartre, Hegel or Heidegger--the style of the book renders its main points interesting and comprehensible to an intelligent, thoughtful reader. Rorty's main points come through clearly and powerfully. The metaphor of philosophy as a mirror of nature--and the imperative need to move beyond this metaphor--is compelling and independent of the more analytically dense portions of the book. The full second half is fairly easy to follow for those who have more than a passing interest in philosophy.

But, this isn't it's main value. If you're daunted by the prospect of reading Derrida or Foucault--or even Sartre--parts of this book are the most honest and readable abridgments I've run across. As a lit grad student, I barely understood Derrida. Reading Rorty was like being given a magic key to unlock the inscrutable mysteries of continental postmodernism. Some find Rorty's style strained, but I think he's one of the most talented English-language stylists philosophy has known--perhaps second only to Jane Addams or William James.

This isn't light beach-reading material, but it is a great read for those at all interested in contemporary philosophy.

5 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rorty, October 24, 2009

By 

Craig R. Clark - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature: Thirtieth-Anniversary Edition (Paperback)

I was a bit disappointed. Some interesting issues raised about science and linguistics, but the philosophy is somewhat tenuous. Clearly following the trend that only academic philosophers need understand each other leaves the intelligent layman out in left field. Carl Sagan once lamented this same trend in the sciences, that is, that astronomers need only write for other astronomers. Obviously, String Theory is headed in the same direction, making it unintelligible for all but physicists who have been trained in the new math. Great thinkers are readily grasped by readers outside their own field. I met a philosopher who didn't want me to read his book because it was too "technical". As far as I am concerned, if you can't put your theories into plain and lucid language, your work will become useless and discarded by the majority of people who read books and use libraries.