Pragmatist Approaches in Contemporary Political Theory

Abstract

This panel aims to explore recent appropriations and transformations of pragmatism in political theory. The pragmatist tradition has re-emerged as a prominent current in various areas of philosophy, offering a distinct systematic and post-metaphysical perspective on notions of truth, meaning, and normativity. What can philosophical pragmatism contribute to political theory? And conversely, in what ways do political questions urge us to transform central pragmatist ideas? So far, within political theory, pragmatism has been most influential in thinking about democracy. What are the implications of a pragmatist rethinking of truth and meaning for conceptions of democratic deliberation and conflict? And what is the potential of pragmatism in other areas of political theory? For instance, how can pragmatism help us to rethink notions of human rights, transnational governance, and political legitimacy? The panel will reflect the diverse ways in which pragmatist thinking has been employed in recent years to engage some of enduring challenges political theory faces in the 21st century.

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