The Evolution Logic Of Pragmatism And Its Metaphysical Value

The main purpose of this thesis is to try to summarize the metaphysical thoughts of representative figures in different stages of pragmatism, and try to discuss the value of pragmatism in the contemporary construction of metaphysics,so as to further confirm the inherent tendency of metaphysics from "uplifting" to "downshifting".This thesis, by the consolidated method of history and logic, briefly introduces the evolution, development and value of metaphysics in the period of classical pragmatism and analytic philosophy of pragmatism and new pragmatism. The basic idea what this thesis attempts to demonstrate is that pragmatism is a philosophical way of thinking and method, which advocates attention to facts, benefits and consequences. These methods are fundamentally to solve metaphysical arguments. As a special stage in the development of metaphysics, pragmatism helps to break the dilemma and controversy of traditional metaphysics. Its methods, resources and paths are of great significance to the construction of contemporary metaphysics. Pragmatism is focused on human nature and life, symbols and language, as well as action and practice. Its development process presents intertwined clues of"experience"and "language",and implies the development trend of future philosophy. "What is" about the traditional metaphysics is replaced by "what will be " about pragmatism , and the center of philosophy shifts the perspective of the metaphysics itself from"looking back" to "looking forward" ,thus completes the shift from heaven to earth.This thesis consists of six chapters and a conclusion. The first chapter demonstrates in detail from the aspects of the origin of the topic, the significance of the research, the basic connotation and method of pragmatism, the present situation, the main ideas, the possible innovations and deficiencies. The second chapter to the fourth chapter specifically retrospects the metaphysical thoughts of representative figures in the period of classical pragmatism, analytic philosophy of pragmatism and new pragmatism. At the various stages of pragmatism, the continuation of the thought and the divergence of views exist simultaneously between philosophers. The new pragmatism's focus on language replaces the classical pragmatism's interest in experience. Pragmatism and analytic philosophy are in the complex relationship of interactive game,with the analytic philosophy in trouble,postmodernism has become a new source of philosophy. The fifth chapter analyzes the development and evolution logic of pragmatism from two perspectives of the "mixture" of experience and language and the historical evolution of metaphysics. The sixth chapter explains both the metaphysical value and the problems about pragmatism,and focuses on the criticism and transformation of the pragmatism to the traditional philosophy. It adapts to metaphysical development and evolution logic due to its openness and compatibility .Its ideological resources, research methods,new paths and post-philosophical culture are promoting the contemporary construction of metaphysics.At the same time, the thesis also briefly introduces the problems of pragmatism. The concluding part briefly expounds that pragmatism further confirms the inner trend of metaphysics from"uplifting"to"downshifting".In the process of growth and development, metaphysics has shown with various kinds of "appearances"in the history of philosophy. By understanding pragmatism, we can find Peirce's "semiotic metaphysics",James's "radical empiricism",Schiller's"concrete metaphysics",Hook's ""metaphysics of pragmatism",Quine's "ontological commitment",Rorty's "post-philosophical culture"and Putnam's “ multiple faces of realism" and so on. Therefore,by grasping the evolution logic of pragmatism and trying to clarify the metaphysical thoughts of representative philosophers at different periods of pragmatism, we can grasp the evolution logic of philosophical development and the future path of metaphysical development from the height of the thought and the depth of history. In modern society, the human spirit is replaced by material worship,the expansion of material pursuit has given rise to the shrinking of the spiritual life. The metaphysics of pragmatism has a certain theoretical value and practical significance from the metaphysical dimension.