The Issue of Method within Contemporary Pragmatism

Abstract

The issue of method is an area of disagreement and contention between two different perspectives of contemporary pragmatism: linguistic neopragmatism and pragmatism of classical tendency focused on experience. Though the debate within contemporary pragmatism is wider and the context should be considered, I think that the issue of method can be addressed separately. First, the article introduces John Dewey’s idea of “experience as method” and considers Richard Rorty’s argument in favor of “pragmatism without method”. I argue that the “experimental” pragmatist perspective of inquiry can successfully answer to the criticism of the latter. Secondly, the article presents the proposal of pragmatist methodology in line with Dewey’s perspective -though I suggest that it is compatible with Rorty’s neopragmatism. I argue that this proposal might be better understood as a metaphilosophical one, that is, about what is the purpose of and how to undertake philosophical inquiry.