Exploring the Possibilities of Pragmatism

Spring Colloquium 2001

The Spring 2001 Colloquium Series, entitled “Beyond the Absolute and the Arbitrary: Exploring the Possibilities of Pragmatism,” attempted both to explore the resources of pragmatism and to evaluate pragmatism’s ability to provide a third way that delivers us from the swing between the supposedly absolute and the seemingly arbitrary. Our inquiry included, but was not limited to, the following questions. How, in fact, is pragmatism being appropriated in the humanities and social sciences? What are the significant trends in this regard? Do the pragmatists free us from the tiresome swing between dogmatism and skepticism? Are they part of the solution or part of the problem? What are pragmatism’s shortcomings and limitations? What are its contributions? What elements of pragmatism might we appropriate more effectively, or modify in some way, in our pursuit of worthwhile arguments and inquiries?

FEATURING:

Catherine Elgin, Harvard University.

Hans Joas, Freie Universitat, Berlin, and University of Chicago.

Merold Westphal, Fordham University.

Linda Alcoff, Syracuse University.

John Stuhr, Pennsylvania State University.

Stephen Toulmin, University of Southern California.

Papers from this colloquium were published in the Fall 2001 issue of The Hedgehog Review.