The Meaning of Pragmatism: The Ethics of Terminology and the Language of Philosophy

Teorema, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 9-29, 2009

University of Miami Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2010-02

22 Pages Posted: 30 Oct 2009 Last revised: 12 Aug 2011

See all articles by Susan Haack

Susan Haack

University of Miami - School of Law; University of Miami - Department of Philosophy

Date Written: October 1, 2009

Abstract

I. The classical pragmatist tradition; contemporary distortions of pragmatism. II. Peirce's thesis of the "growth of meaning"; its relevance to the vocabulary of the sciences and the rationality of the scientific enterprise. III. Peirce's "ethics of terminology"; its connection with his aspiration to make philosophy "scientific." IV. Why, in the language of philosophy today, we see impoverishment of meaning and violations of the ethics of terminology.

Keywords: pragmatism, pragmaticism, neo-pragmatism, C.S. Peirce, scientific philosophy, enrichment/impoverishment of meaning, ethics of terminology, language of science, language of philosophy

Suggested Citation

Haack, Susan, The Meaning of Pragmatism: The Ethics of Terminology and the Language of Philosophy (October 1, 2009). Teorema, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 9-29, 2009, University of Miami Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2010-02, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1496295

Susan Haack (Contact Author)

University of Miami - School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 248087
Coral Gables, FL 33146
United States
305-284-3541 (Phone)
305-284-6506 (Fax)

University of Miami - Department of Philosophy ( email )

P.O. Box 248054
Coral Gables, FL 33124-4670
United States

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