Philosophy in an Age of Pluralism: The Philosophy of Charles Taylor in QuestionThis is the first comprehensive evaluation of Charles Taylor's work and a major contribution to leading questions in philosophy and the human sciences as they face an increasingly pluralistic age. Charles Taylor is one of the most influential contemporary moral and political philosophers: in an era of specialisation he is one of the few thinkers who has developed a comprehensive philosophy which speaks to the conditions of the modern world in a way that is compelling to specialists in various disciplines. This collection of specially commissioned essays brings together twelve distinguished scholars from a variety of fields to discuss critically Taylor's work. The topics range from the history of philosophy, to truth, modernity and postmodernity, theism, interpretation, the human sciences, liberalism, pluralism and difference. Taylor responds to all the contributions and re-articulates his own views. |
Contents
Taylor on truth | 13 |
Interpreting modernity | 28 |
Modernity and disenchantment some historical reflections | 30 |
Religion history and moral discourse | 42 |
The risks and responsibilities of affirming ordinary life | 60 |
Natural and human sciences | 74 |
The strange estrangement Taylor and the natural sciences | 76 |
Is there an objective spirit? | 89 |
Literature Romantic expression or strategic interaction? | 114 |
The role of articulation in understanding practice and experience as sources of knowledge in clinical nursing | 129 |
Ethics politics and pluralism | 150 |
Rights and pluralism | 152 |
The political theory of strong evaluation | 164 |
Philosophy and political judgement in a multinational federation | 187 |
Reply and rearticulation | 204 |
Charles Taylor replies | 206 |
Common terms and phrases
aesthetic affirmation agency agents argued argument articulation behaviour believe Cambridge Canada Canadian capacity caring practices causal Charles Taylor citizens claim Claude Lévi-Strauss clear and distinct conception constitutive context critics culture defined Descartes Descombes discourse distinct society ethical example external fact Grotius Guy Laforest historical human sciences Ibid idea important individual institutions interpretation involves Isaiah Berlin Jean Bethke Elshtain John Rawls judgements justice kind language literary lives means Meech Lake Accord modern identity moral sources natural sciences neutrality notion nurse objective spirit one's ontology particular passions person Philosophical papers plurality political philosophy position principle Québec Quentin Skinner question rational Rawls Rawlsian reality recognise relation religious Richard Rorty Richard Tuck role Rorty seems sense simply social society speaking story strong evaluation Taylor's account theory things thought tradition truth understanding University Press values Vincent Descombes