Simon Blackburn somehow always gets under my skin. Reviewing Sokal's
latest knock-off on his silly prank, he quotes Rorty explaining why he
(Blackburn) does so:
http://www.powells.com/review/2008_08_14.html
It didn't do to thump the table or insist too much: philosophers, it
was supposed, had taught us to see any such exhibition of critical
reason as nothing more than a bid for power, a rhetorical trick for
imposing ourselves on others, and with such bad manners, or worse.
Especially it would not do if the ones who were being thumped at
were victims of the colonial past, or descendants anxious to claim
the status of victim. In that sacred sector, respect was the order
of the day, even if it meant smiling politely at creationist
timetables of earth history, Hindu versions of science, homeopathic
medicine, and any other stumbling pre-scientific attempt at
understanding the world. In fact, the only proper targets of
disrespect were those "metaphysical prigs," as Richard Rorty liked
to call them, who wanted to keep the inverted commas off words such
as truth, reason, or knowledge.
"Metaphysical Prig" -- sounds about right ;-). Who knew that one day I
would find common ground with Rorty ... I didn't!
More coherent thoughts soon, on my blog (for those who care).
--ravi
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