from Part V - Methodologism
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2026
This chapter situates methodologism within neopragmatist thought, particularly in relation to the work of Richard Rorty, Robert Brandom, and Huw Price. Neopragmatists generally prioritise doing over thinking, practice over theory, and action over contemplation. They also favour pragmatics over semantics, naturalised epistemology over metaphysics, and knowing-how over knowing-that. However, they differ in the strength of their anti-representationalist commitments. Methodologism is radically and consistently anti-representationalist, aligning closely with the positions of Rorty and Wittgenstein. Methodologism can be characterised by four central commitments: (1) deep pragmatism, (2) strong anti-representationalism, (3) linguistic inferentialism, and (4) normative social-discursivism. Additionally, methodologism is anti-metaphysical and non-sceptical in orientation.
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