Research On Rorty's Thoughts On Moral Progress

As a knowledgeable and innovate philosopher of New pragmatism,Rorty's ideas have greatly affected the philosophy as well as other non-philosophy majors,and brought new hope to philosophy development and social progress.From his perspective,there is no prevenient foundation and ever-lasting humanity.And philosophic perspective must be changed,namely people no longer pursue ever-lasting truth.Instead,people's life will be more colourful by promoting dialogue and exchanges.Rorty's idea of moral progress is an essential part of his entire idea and moral philosophy.Though his ideas on moral progress is inconspicuous among his large amount of works,they can't be avoided.Because it shows his spirit of pragmatism standing in and pointing to the reality,which has a profound effect on people's moral life.In his idea,moral progress is not a set aim,but a process which needs people's joint efforts,a process where the range of “we” are being enlarged,which means that moral progress does not require the increase of moral knowledge or the enhancement of rational ability,but ask for people's emphasis of their own emotions,especially the important influence of sympathy.Because sympathy makes people be able to care about “others” who are different from themselves,and to find out the similarities between “we” and “they”.In this way can the range of “we” be enlarged.From this perspective,it's obvious to notice that Rorty's moral progress breaks the shackle of“strong rationality” and abstract moral principles and provides people a new approach to solving morality problems.When people can care about others with emotion,plenty of problems will be solved naturally.This essay tells of Rorty's moral progress from three aspects:First of which is its theoretical origins.It begins with moral dilemmas faced by society which brings out the thinking of Rorty's moral progress.In the background of philosophical revolution,Rorty carries on and develops advanced theories,deliberates about rationality promoted by Transcendental Moral Philosophy as well as the the transcendental moral principles,points out the deviation of Transcendental Moral Philosophy in solving moral problems and promoting moral progress,and criticizes it by criticizing the correspondence theory of truth.Moreover,this paper deliberates on the main idea of Rorty's morality progress.This theoryis established after its reflection of and criticism to Transcendental Moral Philosophy,and mainly explores people's moral progress.Rorty places human's sympathy as the core element of moral progress and considers that people's sympathy could be enlarged by motion education and imagination.He also defines the aim of moral progress as the achievement of human solidarity on a larger scale,which is not fixed,but is created in the process of people's moral progress.In the end,this paper introduces the theoretical value,practical significance and disadvantages of Rorty's moral progress.Rorty's idea has a profound theoretical basis.It overcomes the limitation of traditional morality philosophy,promotes the development of moral philosophy to some extent and provides people with methods of thinking about moral problems and doing moral practice.Although this theory has unavoidable limitations,it has more advantages.Thus,Rorty's moral progress is worth researching and reflecting seriously.