From: MATTHEW PAUL KUNDERT (mpkundert@students.wisc.edu)
Date: Wed May 21 2003 - 04:14:48 BST
Steve,
Steve said:
The liberals say that Joe is oppressed by society. It's not Joe's fault.
You are insensitive if the idea even crosses your mind. (After all liberals
don't tend to believe in internal development. E.g. Matt K) They will
suggest external solutions to alleviate the suffering that was imposed upon
Joe from the outside.
Matt:
Now, I didn't say I don't believe in internal development. I said I don't believe in spiritual transcendence. Vegetarian uses of transcendence, development, increases in awareness, etc., I'm fine with. What I don't think is possible is the type of mystical transcendence that feeds of the belief that you are being connected with or coming closer to something outside of yourself, something Other. I think Rorty's position is too cagey to be caught in your internal/external dichotomy, which I find otherwise to be quite useful. I tend to think of Rorty's social philosophy to be of an enlightened, useful type. Rorty believes quite strongly in the differences and demands of socialization and individuation. The idea that we are being oppressed by society is a Marxist/Foucaultian idea that needs to be moved beyond. Society is what we come out of, so of course if there is any oppression going on, that's where we need to make some strides. But Foucaultians make the mistake of
thinking that society is inherently oppressive. This is simply pessimistic and does nothing for the particular instances of oppression.
And otherwise I agree with much of your analysis. I just don't think Rorty falls into the "typical liberal" postition you sketched. I think he, shall we say, transcends it.
Matt
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