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Richard Rorty: The Making of an American Philosopher

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Neil Gross, speaking for the "new sociology of ideas", has written this compelling and challenging book in order to explore social factors that explain an intellectual's life-time professional career choices. Using Richard Rorty as an empiric choice to illuminate sociology theory, the author first traces Rorty's transition from metaphysician to analytic philospher and finally to a "leftist American patriot" (as a devotee of the pragmatists - James, Dewey, and Pierce); secondly, the author interprets and understands Rorty's decisions by dissecting out his "intellectual self-concept" - the author's own methodologic tool. Was the author successful in showing how sociology could explain Rorty's decision-making process? Yes. By giving us, the reader, insight into the great philosopher's self-concept..... This book should find a permanent place in the area of Humanities; it is especially recommended for those involved in the new sociology of ideas and of course to all attuned to Richard Rorty.

This making of an American philosopher only covers the making, that is from Rorty's grandparents, parents, schooling, and career until about 1982. Rorty continued to live and write for another 25 years but that period falls beyond the view of this investigation.

It is interesting that an author would unroll an arsenal of sociological methods to address the circumstances of a single individual. Most of the new sociology of ideas assists the author's effort to show the changes in American academia and the stratification of disciplines occurring after WWII, and such explication is very well done. When it is clear that a theory will not account for a life-decision made by Rorty, Gross employs his "self-concept" idea; which suggests, roughly, that individuals behave in accord with their conception of self. The novelty of this innovation is hardly shattering and such a wishy-washy guide as to seem capricious beside some of the hard-earned, empirical theories of sociology and educational change.

The author sets out to reveal how it is possible that someone like Rorty could grow into a brilliant and controversial academic superstar. The sociological methods do very well to establish frames of intellectual activity and contexts for Rorty's opportunities, but they in no way persuade that Rorty's explosive success was anything other than unique. One case-study of a single individual does not make a science or a sociology secure (or convincing).

On the whole, this book offers a very solid review of Richard Rorty's early career, its development and some suggestions as to what made him tick, but revolutionary sociology this is not.

Sociologist Neil Gross has written a fascinating biography of Richard Rorty that attempts to show the sociological influences that formed Rorty into the politically radical, anti-analytical pragmatist we came to know and admire.

Although the book's title is misleading, since it gives no indication that quite a few pages will be devoted to discussing sociological theory, the strictly biographical portions--the majority of the book--are excellent and are unburdened with sociological speculation. Gross's discussion of Rorty's philosophical theorizing is quite good.

Rorty would have approved of Gross's work. Gross proposes a theory--a story or narrative--of how Rorty came to believe and argue what he did. Gross does this by looking at Rorty's rearing and the sociological pressures and influences of the schools Rorty attended and taught at. This is the kind of hypothetical "explanation" Rorty said we must endlessly debate regarding all so-called truths we affirm in a world in which we cannot encounter the "given" without wrapping it in the assumptions and theories of our time and place. Gross's sociological explanation of how Rorty came to be Rorty acknowledges, as Rorty claimed, that there are no sharp divisions between philosophy, sociology, or any of the other disciplines of academic study.

A separate chapter is devoted to each of Rorty's parents; then several chapters on Rorty's training at the University of Chicago and Yale; a chapter on his appointment to Wellesley College; then two chapters on his teaching at Princeton and his move to the University of Virginia.