Satisfaction or Supersession?

Expression,
Rationality, and Irony in Hegel and Rorty.
Clio 36 .1 (Fall 2006). 4158.
by Craig B. Matarrese
This negatiity o! irony is" on the one han#" the anity o! eerything !a$t%al" &oral" an# o! intrinsi$
'orth" the n%llity o! eerything ob(e$tie an# absol%tely ali#. )! the ego re&ains at this stan#*oint"
eerything a**ears to it as n%ll an# ain" e+$e*t its o'n s%b(e$tiity 'hi$h there!ore be$o&es hollo'
an# e&*ty an# itsel! &ere anity. B%t" on the other han#" the ego &ay" $ontrari'ise" !ail to !in#
satis!a$tion in this sel!,en(oy&ent an# instea# be$o&e ina#e-%ate to itsel!" so that it no' !eels a $raing
!or the soli# an# the s%bstantial" !or s*e$i!i$ an# essential interests. (1)
.i$har# .orty has arg%e# in his re$ent 'or/s that it is *ossible to lie a li!e o! *riate sel!,$reation
in!%se# 'ith so$ial ho*e an# soli#arity b%t 'itho%t the stan#ar# &eta*hysi$al baggage that
a$$o&*anies &ost *hiloso*hi$al a$$o%nts o! $o&&%nity. 0is arg%&ent rests on the *la%sibility an#
attra$tieness o! the $hara$ter he $elebrates" 'hi$h has ha# ario%s #esignations oer the years !or
.orty" !ro& the 1*ost&o#ernist bo%rgeois liberal1 to the 1liberal ironist1 to the generally *rag&ati$
&e&ber o! the 1re!or&ist 2e!t.1 (2) .orty3s a$$o%nt is es*e$ially interesting in t'o 'ays4
!irst" as an atte&*t to 'ar# o!! o%r *ost&o#ern &elan$holy by sho'ing ho' the *erson 'ho greets
*ost&o#ernis& 'ith an e&bra$e instea# o! an %neasy an# hesitant a$$e*tan$e $an nonetheless !eel
e&*o'ere# an# en(oy the bon#s o! soli#arity 'ith others" liing as an agent in the 'orl# instea# o! as a
&ere s*e$tator" an# se$on#" as a *ossible 'ay to &a/e sense o! 'hat 0egelian *oliti$al *hiloso*hy $an
&ean !or %s to#ay" a /in# o! *ost&eta*hysi$al an# *rag&ati$ 0egelian $on$e*tion o! the ties that bin#
%s together in the &o#ern state. )! .orty t%rns o%t to be right in these &atters" then 'e 'o%l# all be
better o!! i! 'e $o%l# sto* trying to arti$%late a $o&*rehensie ision that %nites o%r *%rs%it o! *riate
sel!,$reation an# o%r *%rs%it o! broa# so$ial soli#arity5 'e sho%l# ta/e %* a ne' o$ab%lary" he arg%es"
that allo's %s to #isb%r#en o%rseles o! the tas/ o! !in#ing so&e 'ay to gro%n# o%r *oliti$al theories"
es$a*e the #esire to %ni!y all o! o%r al%es" an# !ree o%rseles !ro& &eta*hysi$al !o%n#ations. )n#ee#"
.orty hol#s o%t an a**ealing an# e&*o'ering *ossibility4 that 'e $an ta/e %* his ironist o$ab%lary
an# so a$t%ali6e a ne' liberal %to*ia that better e+*resses o%r 'i#ely share# al%es.
B%t .orty3s re$asting o! 0egel3s *oliti$al *hiloso*hy &erits s$r%tiny" an# #es*ite the !a$t that &any
*hiloso*hers to#ay ta/e .orty3s ie' to re*resent a /in# o! *rag&ati$ neo,0egelianis&" in#ee# the
&ost *la%sible !or& o! 0egelian liberalis& aro%n# to#ay" &y ie' is that .orty sells 0egel short. 7!
$o%rse" there is an obio%s an# %n#eniable lin/ bet'een 8&eri$an *rag&atis& an# 0egelian
*hiloso*hy (es*e$ially in 9ohn :e'ey3s *hiloso*hi$al #eelo*&ent)" an# &any s$holars hae
*ers%asiely e&*hasi6e# 0egel3s *rag&atis& oer his s%**ose#ly %n&anageable &eta*hysi$s (!or
e+a&*le" .obert Bran#o& in his re$ent 'or/ (8)). B%t #es*ite 'hateer 0egelian strains o! tho%ght #o
s%rie in .orty3s liberalis&" there are t'o !%n#a&ental an# irre$on$ilable #i!!eren$es bet'een .orty3s
an# 0egel3s ie's that sho%l# *re$l%#e the $lai& that .orty re*resents the best o! 'hat 0egelian
*oliti$al *hiloso*hy $an &ean !or %s to#ay4 (1) 0egel arg%es that *eo*le 'ill e+*erien$e the &ost
satis!ying /in# o! !ree#o& i! they strie to integrate their *riate an# *%bli$ *ro(e$ts" 'hereas .orty
re(e$ts this i#ea5 an# (2) 0egel thin/s that not only is *hiloso*hy so$ially %se!%l" b%t it in !a$t sho%l#
!ill the highest *%bli$ role" 'hereas .orty 'ants to $ontain *hiloso*hy in the *riate s*here.
.egar#ing the !irst *oint" .orty3s ie' is in #ire$t o**osition both to 0egel3s a&bitio%s theory o!
!ree#o& an# to his alori6ation o! $oheren$e in the str%$t%res o! rationality. M%$h o! the rhetori$al
a**eal o! .orty3s *osition is that it o!!ers a /in# o! e&*o'er&ent that a$$o&*anies one3s re(e$tion o!
the #ee*,seate# ten#en$y to see onesel! as *art o! a bigger story. )n#ee#" 'here 0egel 'or/e# to
oer$o&e an# resole #%alis&s in &o#ern $%lt%re by 'ay o! a &ore holisti$ an# $oherent ie'" .orty
$elebrates s%$h #%alis&s an# arg%es that they sho%l# be ironi$ally e&bra$e#. The i&*ortan$e o! the
se$on# #i!!eren$e,,on the -%estion o! 'hether there $an be a *%bli$ role !or *hiloso*hy,,$annot be
%n#eresti&ate#4 'hereas 0egel thin/s that *hiloso*hy o!!ers %s the best $han$e 'e hae to oer$o&e
the #%alis&s that *lag%e %s" an# that the state sho%l# be base# on a $o&*rehensie *hiloso*hi$al ie'
o! !ree#o&" .orty arg%es that *hiloso*hy is only %se!%l !or the *riate *ro(e$t o! sel!,$reation" that it is
&erely sti&%lating rea#ing !or those 'ho &ight get so&ething o%t o! it. (4)
)n 'hat !ollo's" ) 'ill #eelo* an internal arg%&ent against .orty3s $elebrate# $hara$ter" the 1liberal
ironist"1 that sho's it to e&*loy a &o#el o! *ra$ti$al rationality that is %nsatis!ying. The arg%&ent here
is not that it is in any sense i&*ossible to be a liberal ironist5 rather" it (%st sho's that s%$h a
*ers*e$tie sets !or itsel! $riteria that are i&*ossible to satis!y" that it re*resents a &o#e o! reasoning
that is sel!,!r%strating. The arg%&ent here is ins*ire# by one that 0egel lays o%t in his ;heno&enology
o! <*irit" one that has been inter*rete# in ario%s 'ays,,e.g." as a $riti-%e o! nar$issisti$ in#ii#%alis&"
o! the shallo' *retensions o! a$a#e&ia" an# o! bo%rgeois so$iety in general,,b%t one that $a*t%res
.orty3s liberal ironist as 'ell (not be$a%se .orty is nar$issisti$" shallo'" or *retentio%s" b%t be$a%se
there is a si&ilar str%$t%ral #yna&i$ at 'or/ in his ie' as 'ith the ie' that 0egel targets). (5) )n
inter*reting 0egel3s arg%&ent" tho%gh" an# in ta/ing a !e' other $%es !ro& 0egel" ) a& &%$h less
intereste# in te+t%al e+egesis than in eal%ating ho' the arg%&ent stan#s on its o'n" 'hether it has
!or$e against .orty3s ie'" an# 'hat sorts o! i&*li$ations it $ontains. (6) 8!ter sho'ing that the &o#el
o! rationality e&*loye# by the liberal ironist !ails to satis!y its o'n $riteria" ) 'ill also $onsi#er so&e o!
.orty3s li/ely res*onses" es*e$ially 'here these $hallenge 0egel3s general i#ea o! s%*ersession
(8%!heb%ng).
)n so&e 'ays" this arg%&ent is tailore# rather narro'ly to a##ress 'hat is a#&itte#ly (%st one ele&ent
o! the sort o! *erson .orty is alori6ing" an# .orty &ight 'ell s%ggest that things be inter*rete# &ore
generally. B%t it is ne$essary to a**ly *ress%re in this narro' 'ay" !or it is only by #oing this that
inherent tensions are reeale# that 'o%l# other'ise go %nnoti$e# (%st belo' the s%r!a$e. )t is also only
thro%gh this a#&itte#ly narro' sort o! internal arg%&ent that ) $an begin to #isting%ish bet'een .orty3s
s%*er!i$ial neo,0egelianis& an# 'hat see&s to be a &ore rob%st an# gen%inely *hiloso*hi$al
0egelianis&" a #istin$tion that is ne$essary to &a/e $lear 0egel3s $ase that *hiloso*hy sho%l# o$$%*y
an i&*ortant *%bli$ role. Tho%gh ) 'ill not be able to #eelo* the *oint in this essay" 0egelian *oliti$al
*hiloso*hy inoles the $riti$al an# re$onstr%$tie *%rs%it o! $oheren$e" the atte&*t to %n#erstan# ho'
o%r !orging o! sel!,i#entities an# str%ggling to be$o&e !ree are either enhan$e# or !r%strate# by $ertain
instit%tional arrange&ents" an# by ho' 'e %n#erstan# o%r relationshi* to those instit%tional str%$t%res.
0egel thin/s that o%r $riti$al #is$%ssions an# #eliberations abo%t the !a&ily" the &ar/et" an# o%r basi$
*oliti$al instit%tions &%st be in!or&e# by a general theory o! !ree#o& an# so&e *hiloso*hi$al
%n#erstan#ing o! 'hy !ree#o& is i&*ortant to %s.
0egel arg%es that this *hiloso*hi$ally in!or&e# %n#erstan#ing o! o%r basi$ so$ial an# *oliti$al
instit%tions is nee#e# to yiel# an# $lari!y o%r #eter&inate $o&&it&ents" e.g." $hoi$e in oting !or
ele$te# o!!i$ials" or !or (or against) re!eren#a" or one3s inole&ent 'ith *oliti$al gro%*s an# a$tiities
o%tsi#e o! oting. There &%st be a naigable $ontin%%&" he arg%es" !ro& the &ost *arti$%lar relations to
the &ost %niersal *rin$i*le" an# these #eter&inate $o&&it&ents are the /ey to be$o&ing !ree4 one is
!ree to the e+tent that one $an ta/e one3s a$tions to be one3s o'n" an# this &eans not only that one &%st
also be able to a!!ir& the instit%tions an# so$ial str%$t%res that $on#ition one3s a$tions" b%t also that one
$an a$$e*t the #eter&inate $o&&it&ents o! those instit%tions. For e+a&*le" one is !ree in the $onte+t o!
&arriage i! one $an a!!ir& the instit%tion o! &arriage an# also i#enti!y 'ith the $o&&it&ents one has
'hen *arti$i*ating in that instit%tion5 i! one $annot see the a$tions an# $onstraints o! the instit%tion o!
&arriage as 1one3s o'n"1 then one is not !ree in that $onte+t. (=)
Be!ore &oing on to the arg%&ent itsel!" tho%gh" ) nee# to say a !e' 'or#s abo%t the eal%ation o!
&o#els o! *ra$ti$al rationality" ho' this notion o! 1satis!a$tion1 is s%**ose# to 'or/. The i#ea o! a
1&o#el o! rationality1 e&*loye# here !%n$tions in the sa&e 'ay that 0egel analy6e# 'hat &ight be
$alle# 1&o#es o! $ons$io%sness1 in his ;heno&enology" as the e+a&ination o! ho' a $ertain 1ty*e1 o!
in#ii#%al ta/es %* a theoreti$ally in!or&e# &o#e o! li!e" an# tries to satis!y the $riteria !or tr%th"
ha**iness" irt%e" an# so !orth that are establishe# by that theoreti$al ie'. 7! $o%rse" this is a broa#
$hara$teri6ation o! 'hat $o%nts !or a &o#el o! rationality" &%$h broa#er than &any *hiloso*hers 'o%l#
'ant to #eal 'ith" b%t this broa# %sage is #esigne# to be able to $a*t%re the internal #yna&i$ o! a 'i#e
ariety o! s%$h &o#es or &o#els. Many o! the se$tions o! 0egel3s ;heno&enology are #esigne# to
a**ly both to s*e$i!i$ theorists" e.g." >ant" b%t also to any ty*e o! *erson 'ho lies a li!e that e+*resses
>antian i#eals an# 'ho *%rs%es these i#eals in the 'ay that >ant3s theory s%ggests.
?ith these *oints in &in#" ) s%ggest that the set o! rather &%n#ane !eat%res one 'o%l# asso$iate 'ith
any &o#el o! *ra$ti$al rationality or &o#e o! $ons$io%sness" ta/en together" #eter&ines the $riteria !or
#eter&ining 'hether a &o#el o! *ra$ti$al rationality is satis!ying or not. 8 satis!ying &o#el o! *ra$ti$al
rationality is one that4 (1) aoi#s $ontra#i$tion" sel!,e+ha%stion" an# sel!,#e!eat5 (2) hel*s %s &a/e
$hoi$es" g%i#e a$tions" an# !or&%late en#s an# *ro(e$ts5 (3) has the general e!!e$t o! sel!,e&*o'er&ent
instea# o! sel!,st%lti!i$ation5 (4) hel*s %s arti$%late an# a$hiee the i#eals e+*resse# by o%r *ra$ti$es5
an# (5) allo's !or sel!,(%sti!i$ation an# (%sti!i$ation to others. <aying that a ie' is 1satis!ying1 or
1%nsatis!ying1 is not to say that it is 1tr%e1 or 1!alse15 &y arg%&ent here #oes not #e!en# a *arti$%lar
$on$e*tion o! the sel! an# then $lai& that $on$e*tion to be tr%e" thereby sho'ing .orty3s to be !alse.
@or #oes 1satis!ying1 &ean 1satis!a$tory1 in the 'ea/ sense o! being a ie' that is &erely tolerable.
<o" ) ta/e it" !or e+a&*le" that a satis!ying &o#el o! *ra$ti$al rationality is one that g%i#es a$tion that
see&s to o$$%r in an e+$l%siely *riate s*here as 'ell as a$tion that *ro$ee#s in the *%bli$ s*here5 i! a
&o#el le!t one 'ith a *ersistent an# irre$on$ilable $on!li$t bet'een *ersonal &orality an# $ii$ #%ty" it
'o%l# be %nsatis!a$tory" not be$a%se the right an# the goo# hae to be i#enti$al" b%t be$a%se a sel! so
strongly bi!%r$ate# is one that has #i!!i$%lty !or&%lating a$tions an# en#s.
.orty &ight res*on# to this $hara$teri6ation o! *ra$ti$al rationality an# the $riteria o! satis!a$tion by
$lai&ing that eerything has been *a$/e# in at the start" that the arg%&ent has been to*,loa#e#" an# so
it sho%l# $o&e as no s%r*rise that a 0egelian arg%&ent $an be %se# to sho' that his ie' is
%nsatis!ying. )n other 'or#s" .orty &ight arg%e that ) hae ta/en a *roble& that is not *hiloso*hi$al,,
the *roble& o! ho' 'e #eliberate abo%t $o&*le+ iss%es in o%r lies,,%tili6e# #istin$tiely *hiloso*hi$al
lang%age to $hara$teri6e it" an# then hae %ns%r*risingly sho'n that it #e&an#s a *hiloso*hi$al
sol%tion. ) 'ill ret%rn to this *roble& later" b%t s%!!i$e it to say at this *oint that #es*ite .orty3s
*rotestations that his *oliti$al ie's are $on$l%sions he #ra's !ro& his obserations o! history" not his
*hiloso*hi$al 'or/" his ie' that *hiloso*hy is irreleant to 'hat goes on in the *%bli$ an# *oliti$al
s*here is itsel! a *hiloso*hi$al ie' abo%t *ra$ti$al rationality4 he is $o&&itte# to the $lai& that
*hiloso*hy &atters 'hen 'e engage in *ra$ti$al #eliberation abo%t things 'e $all 1*riate1 an# not
'hen 'e #eliberate abo%t things 'e $all 1*%bli$.1 That is to say" it is a #istin$tie !eat%re o! the liberal
ironist3s &o#el o! *ra$ti$al rationality that it $ontains 'ithin it a !ir& #istin$tion bet'een the *riate
an# the *%bli$" an# rests on the #ire$tie that *hiloso*hy be $ontaine# in the !or&er s*here.
B%t .orty is %tili6ing so&e rather star/ binary #istin$tions" bet'een 1*%bli$1 an# 1*riate"1 an#
bet'een 1*hiloso*hi$al1 an# 1non*hiloso*hi$al.1 For e+a&*le" tho%gh he !re-%ently s%ggests that 'e
sho%l# i#enti!y 'ith $o&&%nal an# histori$al &oe&ents" 'e are not to thin/ 'e sho%l# #o so !or
*hiloso*hi$al reasons (A0" 155,63). .orty een arg%es" an# ) 'ill ret%rn to this *oint later in the essay"
that the $onte&*orary 8&eri$an 2e!t sho%l# &a/e its *ri&ary *ro(e$t to !ig%re o%t ho' on$e again to
i#enti!y 'ith the ho*e an# *ro&ise o%r $o%ntry. (8) b%t again" this is not to be $arrie# o%t as a
*hiloso*hi$al arg%&ent" let alone a 0egelian one4 .orty e+*lains the $onte&*orary 2e!t3s *re!eren$e
!or /no'le#ge oer ho*e by arg%ing that they 1got their 0egelianis& !ro& Mar+ rather than :e'ey1
(8C" 3=). )! 'e (%st get o%r 0egelianis& !ro& 0egel" 'e &ight be able to !eel the bon#s o! soli#arity"
be$o&e agents instea# o! s*e$tators" an#" at the sa&e ti&e" #o this 'itho%t any sort o! &eta*hysi$s that
.orty &ight ob(e$t to. (B)
The &o#e o! internal arg%&entation in 0egel3s ;heno&enology is i#eal !or sho'ing ho' one $an hae
gen%inely *hiloso*hi$al reasons !or being 'ary o! .orty3s liberal ironist5 it is a &o#e o! arg%&entation
that steers a &i##le $o%rse bet'een .orty3s #es$ri*tion o! the 1as$eti$ *riest1 theori6er an# the
>%n#era,ty*e noelist (A0" 66,82). )n#ee#" the ;heno&enology $an be rea# as a /in# o!
Bil#%ngsro&an4 a narratie *resentation o! ho' $ons$io%sness" by 'ay o! !%n$tionally sel!,$ontaine#
&o#es" learns to #isting%ish bet'een &o#els o! *ra$ti$al rationality that lea# to sel!,st%lti!i$ation an#
those that #o not. There is no single 1#ee* reality1 a$ross these sel!,$ontaine# &o#es that 0egel is
trying to get at" so he #oes not !all *rey to .orty3s $riti$is&s (A0" 181,85)5 b%t on a 0egelian ie'" 'e
$an nonetheless still $o&e %* 'ith so&e #eter&inate negations that gie %s so&e reason !or
aban#oning so&e !or&s o! li!e. (10) The 0egelian arg%&ent that ) $onsi#er in the ne+t se$tion sho's
that .orty3s theory,aerse $elebration o! the liberal ironist $an lea# to a /in# o! sel!,st%lti!i$ation" a
*roble& that $an only be reeale# by 'ay o! a *roisional theoreti$al !ra&e'or/ that !alls 'ell short o!
1gran# theory.1 (11)
The !irst ste* in the internal arg%&ent is to be $lear abo%t 'hat the liberal ironist is a!ter" 'hat $riteria
are establishe# !or the liberal ironist to be satis!ie#. 8$$or#ing to .orty" the liberal ironist is *ri&arily
a!ter a%tono&y an# in#ii#%ation" 'hi$h is best e+*resse# thro%gh the #eelo*&ent o! a o$ab%lary
that is %ni-%e" 'hi$h the ironist $an $all his or her o'n. The ironist #elights in $ontingen$y" haing le!t
the -%est !or anything eternal or 1tr%e1 behin#" an# *%rs%es the *ro(e$t o! sel!,$reation" haing #eta$he#
it !ro& any *oliti$al *ro(e$ts an# ta/en it to be its o'n sel!,s%!!i$ient en#eaor. 8s the ironist sees it"
the a$hiee&ent o! a%tono&y an# in#ii#%ation 'ill not be the e+*ression o! a h%&an nat%re or
essen$e5 in#ee#" the tho%ght goes" one $an only &a/e one3s %ni-%eness &ani!est 'hen one has !ree#
onesel! !ro& thin/ing that there is an essen$e 'e all share. The ironist thin/s that a *erson is really (%st
a %ni-%e b%n#le o! $ontingen$ies" an# that is 'hat &%st be e+*resse# in the ironist3s ne' o$ab%lary.
The ironist has been $onin$e# o! the $ontingen$y o! sel!hoo#" an# ta/es this $ontingen$y to be
a**arent" $lear" an# obio%s (;" 3B8). ) sho%l# be $lear here that ) a& alrea#y $hara$teri6ing the ironist3s
sit%ation in a 'ay that .orty &ight ob(e$t to4 &y $lai& is that the ironist is a!ter e&*o'er&ent. The
sort o! e&*o'er&ent .orty arg%es against is the sort that he attrib%tes to @iet6s$he" Mar+" an#
Fo%$a%lt" 'here there is so&ething to be %nleashe# an# %no**resse#" b%t it see&s that he &erely
s%bstit%tes %ni-%eness !or the thing that is to be set !ree !or e+*ression. The !%n$tional str%$t%re o!
.orty3s e&*o'er&ent" then" is the sa&e as 'ith @iet6s$he" Mar+" an# Fo%$a%lt.
This str%$t%re o! e&*o'er&ent that %n#erlies .orty3s a$$o%nt e+*lains 'hy the ironist !in#s 1big
stories1 o**ressie. <%$h stories ta/e the #elight!%l heterogeneity o! things in the 'orl# an#
%n$ere&onio%sly !or$es the& into their s$he&es. The ironist &%st re(e$t these stories as ill%sions" sin$e
they negate the i&&e#iate reality o! the ironist3s $ontingent %ni-%e sel!5 the only thing that is real !or
the ironist is his or her o'n %ni-%e an# $reatie sel! (;" 3B8" 401" 406" 40B). 8llegian$e to a 1big story"1
the ironist arg%es" /ee*s one !ro& being e&*o'ere#" an# it en#s %* being a /in# o! #ishonesty" sin$e
s%$h allegian$e 'ill blin# one to seeing things !or 'hat they are" to being able to be sin$ere abo%t the&.
8 *erson $annot be e+*ressiely %ni-%e 'hile s'aying %n#er the yo/e o! a 1big story1 be$a%se s%$h a
s$he&e t%rns *eo*le into instantiations5 the ironist re!%ses to be a &ere e+a&*le o! %niersal h%&an
nat%re" sin$e the ironist" a!ter all" has a %ni-%e story to tell" one that sho%l# not be s%bs%&e# by a
*retentio%s story.
.orty 'o%l# say that the ironist is one 'ho tries to be$o&e gen%inely %ni-%e" 'ho stries to s*ea/ a
ne' o$ab%lary" b%t sin$e anyone is alrea#y %ni-%e" be$a%se ea$h *erson is al'ays alrea#y the s%&
total o! a %ni-%e set o! $ontingent relations an# e+*erien$es" the ironist nee#s &ore than this. 7ne is not
e&*o'ere# in the releant sense (%st by being $onin$e# that Fre%# is right" that geni%s is really
#e&o$rati6e#" an# that ea$h *erson is alrea#y a real in#ii#%al5 the s%$$ess!%l ironist &%st thro' o!! all
the essentialist an# %niersalist stories as so &any !etters. 7ne &%st e+*ress one3s %ni-%e in#ii#%ality
by *%tting one3s ne' o$ab%lary o%t there !or the 'orl# to see. This reali6ation &eans that the ironist
&%st !en# o!! the easy &isinter*retations o! his or her a$tions" 'hi$h hae a #ise&*o'ering e!!e$t. This
e!!e$t o$$%rs 'hen" !or e+a&*le" a *erson re!%ses to /ill another *erson" an# the >antian ta/es it to be
an e+*ression o! $o&&it&ent to the &oral la'" 'hen yo%ng *eo*le $ro'# aro%n# an# sho%t *oliti$al
slogans in *rotest5 the 8ristotelian ta/es it as a $on!ir&ation o! o%r nat%re as *oliti$al ani&als" or 'hen
a *erson ta/es %* thieery5 an# the Christian ta/es it as (%st one &ani!estation o! o%r !allenness. B%t the
ironist *oints o%t that none o! these stories abo%t h%&an nat%re are $on!ir&e# by these a$ts" sin$e there
are other stories 'e $an tell abo%t these *eo*le3s a$tions" or better yet" the ironist %rges" one $annot
really $on$l%#e anything abo%t a *erson !ro& his or her *%bli$ly /no'n a$tions e+$e*t that 'hateer
the a$tions are" they are e+*ressions o! that in#ii#%al3s %ni-%e sel! an# so !it in 'ith the %ni-%e story
o! $ontingen$ies that $an be tol# abo%t that *erson.
B%t this inter*retie a&big%ity &a/es it ery #i!!i$%lt !or the ironist to #isting%ish bet'een the
!r%strating e+*erien$e o! being st%$/ in so&eone else3s o$ab%lary an# the e+hilarating e+*erien$e o!
being %ni-%e. )n the !or&er $ase" the ironist &%st hae so&e /in# o! a'areness o! his or her 1tr%e1 or
1%ni-%e1 sel! in or#er to #eter&ine that $ertain tho%ghts or 'or#s are not e+*ressie o! that sel!" b%t
then again" sin$e any *erson is" in the releant sense" al'ays alrea#y %ni-%e" she or he $annot hel* b%t
e+*ress that %ni-%eness (;" 403). <o" een i! one !eels as tho%gh one is e&*loying a ha$/neye#
o$ab%lary" one is nonetheless a %ni-%e b%n#le o! $ontingen$ies" #es*ite a**earan$es. 2i/e'ise" the
rea$tions o! other *eo*le to the ironist3s atte&*ts to e+*ress %ni-%eness be$o&e irreleant" sin$e all
1big stories1 that are i&*ose# on the ironist thro%gh inter*retation $an be #is$o%nte# on the basis that
they ren#er the %ni-%eness that &%st be *resent inisible. )t see&s that the iss%e o! ho' &%$h $larity
one nee#s to &a/e s%$h #eter&inations is *%she# asi#e be$a%se the -%estion o! 'hether one is
e+*ressing %ni-%eness is %shere# into t'o #i!!erent real&s4 at the leel o! *ersonal sel!,%n#erstan#ing"
one /no's that one is al'ays alrea#y %ni-%e5 at the leel o! inter*ersonal re$e*tion an# inter*retation"
it $o%l# go either 'ay.
The ironist" then" is le!t to a$t in the 'orl# 'ith the /no'le#ge that 'hateer a$tion is ta/en" it 'ill
ne$essarily be e+*ressie o! his or her %ni-%eness (;" 404)" b%t then" it is not $lear that this reali6ation is
s%!!i$ient !or the e&*o'er&ent in 'hi$h .orty is intereste#. <o in the $ase that the ironist" say"
*%blishes a *oe& that she or he ta/es to hae been !ashione# 'ith an entirely ne' o$ab%lary" a
gen%ine e+*ression o! %ni-%eness" it be$o&es threatening 'hen the $riti$s all say that it is #oggerel an#
$o&*ose# o! ha$/neye# oer'or/e# *hraseology. The ironist 'o%l# *rotest" arg%ing that she or he has
been &is%n#erstoo#" that the $riti$s are (%st too #ense to a**re$iate the *oe&3s noelty an# so sho%l# be
ignore#. B%t this raises the interesting #ile&&a that 'hile the only e+*ressions o! a *erson3s %ni-%eness
are that *erson3s a$tions an# 'or/s" as soon as s%$h a$tions or 'or/s are in the 'orl# an# obsere# by
others" they are al'ays s%b(e$t to inter*retations base# on other *eo*le3s i#iosyn$rasies5 they 'ill be
%n#erstoo# 'ith res*e$t to so&eone else3s b%n#le o! $ontingen$ies (;" 405). <o" there is a sense that in
the $ase o! the *oe&" it is i&*ossible that it be e+*ressie o! the *oet3s %ni-%eness" sin$e it rather en#s
%* being e+*ressie o! the rea#er3s %ni-%eness" an# there is nothing the *oet $an #o in the *oe& itsel!
that $an &ini&i6e other *eo*le3s $ontingent inter*retations (;" 406).
) hae been arg%ing that .orty is $o&&itte# to a $ertain /in# o! e+*ression" an# no' it is also *art o!
&y arg%&ent that he nee#s inters%b(e$tie re$ognition !or his a$$o%nt to 'or/ as 'ell. The starting
*oint !or the ironist is a *osition o! inse$%re instability" an# the best 'ay to a$hiee stability an#
satis!a$tion is thro%gh so&e /in# o! broa# *%bli$ $on!ir&ation o! the ironist3s %ni-%eness. B%t s%rely"
.orty 'o%l# arg%e that the sta/es here are too high4 broa# *%bli$ $on!ir&ation o! %ni-%eness" he 'o%l#
arg%e" is not ne$essary an# is in#ee# i&*ossible any'ay. There is a ast &i##le terrain bet'een
soli*sisti$ inse$%rity an# broa# *%bli$ re$ognition" an# one -%ite *la%sible *la$e to get a !oothol# in
this terrain is 'here the ironist see/s $on!ir&ation only 'ithin a s&all gro%* o! !ello' traelers an#
@iet6s$hean !rien#s. This see&s li/e the right #ire$tion in 'hi$h !or .orty to &oe" b%t it is not $lear
that it 'o%l# be a *ro&ising &ane%er. <%**ose that in a gro%* o! !ello' traelers the ironist3s *oeti$
neologis&s are rea#ily *i$/e# %* by &e&bers o! the gro%*" 'hereas" in $ontrast" the general *%bli$
entirely &isses the $reatie !or$e behin# the 'or/. )s re$ognition !ro& the ironist3s !ello' traelers
s%**ose# to be $on!ir&ation o! the ironist3s %ni-%eness" or #oes she or he !in# it o**ressieC )! it is the
!or&er" then the ironist is in !a$t $a%ght %* in the #i!!i$%lties &entione#" be$a%se the inter*retation o! a
*erson3s 'or/ an# its being ta/en to be noel is &ore o! a $on!ir&ation o! the inter*reter3s %ni-%eness
than the *oet3s. B%t i! the ironist !in#s $on!ir&ation een a&ong his or her !rien#s to be o**ressie"
then it 'o%l# see& i&*ossible that %ni-%eness $o%l# eer be s%!!i$iently ali#ate#" an# so 'o%l#
s%ggest that the ironist 'ill neer be satis!ie#.
<%**ose .orty arg%es that it 'o%l# be s%!!i$ient i! the ironist (%st tho%ght he or she 'as %ni-%e" an#
that $on!ir&ation thro%gh re$ognition is not nee#e# be$a%se there is not een an interesting #i!!eren$e
bet'een *eo*le 'ho are ha**ily #el%#e# abo%t being %ni-%e an# those 'ho really are. This 'o%l#
nat%rally lea# to'ar#s the ironist !o$%sing solely on 'hat is really s%**ose# to &atter" i.e." not 'hat the
$riti$s say" b%t the 'or/ itsel! (;" 40B,11). The ironist" then" tries to &aintain so&e integrity by trying to
be honest or sin$ere abo%t the *oetry itsel!. This allo's the ironist to es$a*e the $ontingen$ies o! the
$riti$3s inter*retations an# !o$%s on 'hat is $onstant" i.e." that the ironist is a %ni-%e in#ii#%al" an# that
the *oe& is s%**ose# to e+*ress that. This in !a$t s%**lies the ironist 'ith a rea#y&a#e rea$tion to any
inter*retation 'hatsoeer" a /in# o! a%to&ati$ sel!,$ongrat%lation4 regar#less o! ho' it loo/e# to the
'orl#" or 'hat the $riti$s sai#" the a$t 'as &ine. <%$h a sel!,$ongrat%latory *ers*e$tie *%lls one a'ay
!ro& $on$ern !or the *%bli$ re$e*tion o! one3s 'or/ or a$tions" sin$e that $on$ern 'o%l# be a /in# o!
#ishonesty (;" 412). )n#ee#" the &ost honest thing to #o is to !o$%s solely on the $on$ern that a$ts be
e+*ressie o! %ni-%eness. B%t this lea#s to soli*sisti$ sel!,$ertainty" an# i! this is the $ase" then 'hy
sho%l# the %ni-%e ironist bother to try to e+*ress anything" sin$e a$tions or 'or/s set o%t !or the 'orl#
to see are irreleant to the -%estion o! the tr%e %ni-%e nat%re o! the sel!C )n !a$t" on$e this is reali6e#"
any /in# o! a$tion" een $o&*lete ina$tion" is e-%ally e+*ressie o! the tr%e %ni-%e sel!. <o long as the
ironist is o! so&e #is*osition or other" or in state o! 'illing so&ething" she or he is a%to&ati$ally
e+*ressing his or her %ni-%e *arti$%larity (;" 413,15).
?hat has ha**ene# is that the i#ea that there is a %ni-%e sel! that is the *ro#%$t o! ario%s
i#iosyn$rasies an# $ontingen$ies" an# that e+ists 'hether or not anyone else re$ogni6es it" has $o&e to
!%n$tion as a &eta*hysi$al essen$e (i.e." (%st 'hat the ironist 'ante# to aoi#)" b%t 'orse" has also
be$o&e &eaningless an# e&*ty. This e&*tiness $an be re#%$e#" tho%gh" i! the ironist aban#ons honesty
an# ta/es the *ro(e$t o! sel!,$reation to be *%bli$" so that no' it is the *ro(e$t o! see/ing so$ial
$on!ir&ation o! %ni-%eness" instea# o! %ni-%eness itsel!. B%t this lea#s to another *roble&4 i! the liberal
ironist tries *%bli$ly to #is*lay his or her %ni-%e o$ab%lary thro%gh" to /ee* the sa&e e+a&*le" *oetry"
it 'ill soon be$o&e $lear to other *oets that the *oint o! the ne' 'or/ 'as neer to !%rther the art o!
*oetry" b%t rather to sho' o!! the ironist3s %ni-%eness. 8n# it $an only be e+*e$te# i! ban#s o! $riti$s
*ro#%$e $o&&entary on the &aterial" 'here they are #oing the sa&e thing" na&ely" *reten#ing to be
$on$erne# 'ith *oetry 'hile a$t%ally being $on$erne# *%bli$ly to $ongrat%late the&seles on their
%ni-%eness (;" 416,18). There is" then" an %nsettling shi!t o! !o$%s here that s&a$/s o! #ishonesty.
)n s%&" the ironist3s atte&*t to #isb%r#en hi& or hersel! o! any $on$e*tion o! h%&an nat%re or essen$e
!aile# be$a%se 1%ni-%eness1 be$a&e the ne' *la$ehol#er !or 'hat nee#e# to be e+*resse#" th%s only
s%**lanting the ol# notion 'ith a ne' one 'itho%t es$a*ing the general 'ay o! thin/ing abo%t
in#ii#%ality that the ironist 'ante# to re(e$t. <o the !%n$tional str%$t%re o! e&*o'er&ent also
re&aine# the sa&e as in the 'or/ o! those *hiloso*hers the ironist 'ants to re(e$t as relying on
&eta*hysi$al *re(%#i$es. The ironist $lai&s that eeryone is a %ni-%e b%n#le o! $ontingen$ies" an# that
this sho%l# be e+*resse# in a ne' o$ab%lary" b%t the ironist is really le!t 'ith only t'o o*tions here4
either t%rn in'ar# an# $ling (ealo%sly to an e&*ty sel! that is #eta$he# !ro& the 'orl# an# that is
$on!ir&e# e-%ally thro%gh great a$ts as thro%gh #oing nothing5 or a$$e*t that the only sort o! gen%ine
in#ii#%ality that is *ossible &%st be attaine# thro%gh engage&ent 'ith the 'orl# instea# o! retreat
!ro& it. ?hat this engage&ent 'ith the 'orl# entails is another -%estion" b%t &y arg%&ent here is
s%!!i$ient to #e!late the liberal ironist3s *ro(e$t.
The !irst $riti$is& .orty &ight hae o! this so$ial,*heno&enologi$al story o! the liberal ironist is that
the as*irations o! the ironist hae been set too high" an# so hae been !or$e# to !ail. The ironist in the
story see&s to 'ant $o&*lete %ni-%eness all the ti&e" b%t this is obio%sly too #i!!i$%lt to a$hiee" an#
so it is no 'on#er that !ail%re is the res%lt. .orty a$/no'le#ges that there $an be no $o&*lete
s%b&ersion in the *lay!%l &ani*%lation o! &eta*hors" be$a%se lang%age is not *ossible 'here the %se o!
eery 'or# is noel an# interesting. .orty e+*lains that 1een i! 'e agree that lang%ages are not &e#ia
o! re*resentation or e+*ression" they 'ill re&ain &e#ia o! $o&&%ni$ation" tools !or so$ial intera$tion"
'ays o! tying onesel! %* 'ith other h%&an beings1 (C)" 41). )n#ee#" it 'o%l# see& that the ironist
$hara$ter in the story stries !or 'hat .orty $alls @iet6s$he3s 1inerte# ;latonis&"1 the i#ea that a li!e
o! sel!,$reation $an be $o&*lete an# a%tono&o%s5 b%t .orty re$o&&en#s only a /in# o! atten%ate#
herois& (C)" 43).
B%t this $riti$is& s%**oses that things are easier than they are. The *heno&enologi$al story o! the
ironist #oes not sho' that %ni-%eness is *ossible as a *art,ti&e b%t not !%llti&e o$$%*ation5 it sho's
that the i#ea o! a %ni-%e sel! that nee#s to be e+*resse# to the 'orl# thro%gh an inters%b(e$tie &e#i%&
is an ill%sion" an# that the soli*sis& an# nar$issis& b%ilt into this *ers*e$tie #oo& it to !ail%re. .orty
$learly has in &in# ?ittgenstein3s arg%&ent against the i#ea o! a *riate lang%age to s%**ort the $lai&
that lang%age $annot be all &eta*hor" b%t i! he a$$e*ts the !or$e o! that arg%&ent" it is not $lear 'hy he
thin/s that 'e $an hae a *riate lang%age een so&e o! the ti&e" 'hi$h is 'hat the ironist nee#s. (12)
The arg%&ent here #oes not entail the $lai& that no &eta*hor is eer gen%inely ne'5 rather" &y
arg%&ent relies on the #i!!erent $lai& that tho%gh there are gen%inely ne' &eta*hors" it is not *ossible
that these &eta*hors be e+*ressie o! anyone3s %ni-%e in#ii#%ality in the 'ay that the ironist nee#s.
8nother $riti$is& .orty &ight &a/e abo%t the ironist3s *heno&enologi$al story" one that ) hinte# at
earlier" is that it 'rongly s%**oses that the ironist is s%**ose# to be e&*o'ere# in so&e 'ay. The story
abo%t ho' the ironist $annot get 'hat she or he 'ants" .orty &ight say" is one that sho's that the
e+*e$te# *ayo!! is not !orth$o&ing" b%t the #yna&i$s o! the ironist3s e+*erien$e #o not 'or/ the sa&e
'ay as the ol# *ara#ig& o! a%thenti$ity" 'here one !eels e&*o'ere# by irt%e o! ta**ing into
so&ething %niersal" ti&eless" or tr%e. .orty 'o%l# arg%e that the ironist /no's that she $annot ba$/ %*
her a$$o%nt 'ith any o! the re!eren$es the &eta*hysi$ian %ses" an# so #oes not thin/ abo%t
e&*o'er&ent in the sa&e 'ay (C)" B1). B%t this is still a #is$o%rse o! e&*o'er&ent5 it is (%st one that
gets its !or$e !ro& the i#ea o! a /in# o! !ree#o&" a release !ro& the !elt nee# to ta* into a 1big story.1
.orty thin/s that i! 'e ta/e %* his o$ab%lary o! $ontingen$y" 'e 'ill be able to e+*erien$e a *o'er!%l
/in# o! !ree#o&" a !ree#o& that res%lts !ro& o%r a$/no'le#g&ent that 'e $an stan# !or o%r belie!s
tho%gh they are $ontingent" an# o%r es$a*e !ro& the #ee*,seate# nee# to lat$h onto &eta*hysi$al
$o&!orts (C)" 46). The *heno&enologi$al story" then" is to the *oint be$a%se it sho's that the ironist
'ill not be e&*o'ere# in the anti$i*ate# 'ay.
There is a !inal res*onse that .orty &ight hae to the *heno&enologi$al story abo%t the ironist" an# it
is one that &erits s*e$ial attention be$a%se it brings o%t the #i!!eren$e bet'een 0egelian an# .ortyan
irony. .orty &ight arg%e that the 'hole 0egelian i#ea o! trying to sho' that a &o#e o! $ons$io%sness
!ails on its o'n ter&s an# so re*resents a !%tile ty*e o! e+isten$e that &%st be s%*erse#e# begs the
-%estion. (13) )n other 'or#s" .orty &ight agree that the ironist $annot get 'hat he or she 'ants" b%t
arg%e that it #oes not &atter" be$a%se the tr%e ironist is not trying to get any'here5 the tr%e ironist is
$ontent 'ith the a$tiity o! re#es$ri*tion. The 0egelian arg%&ent begs the -%estion be$a%se it s%**oses
that there is a satis!ying state that 'e $an rea$h" that at the en# o! a series o! s%*ersessions" 'e a$t%ally
arrie so&e'here.
.orty is right to say that the internal 0egelain arg%&ent *res%**oses that a s%*ersession gets %s
so&e'here" b%t 'e hae to be $are!%l not to e+aggerate its e!!e$t" !or it is too easy to thin/ the
0egelian story $lai&s &ore than it nee#s to. ) s%ggest that the 'ay to %n#erstan# 0egelian s%*ersession
is to say that it establishes only the $lai& that gien t'o &o#es o! $ons$io%sness (or $o&&%nities or
states in history)" 'here one is s%*erse#e# by another" going ba$/ to the !or&er a!ter ta/ing %* the
*ers*e$tie o! the latter is ironi$. (14) The best a$$ess *oint to %n#erstan#ing 0egelian irony is to loo/
ba$/ to his a$$o%nt o! &%t%al re$ognition4 on$e a *erson has entere# into relations o! &%t%al
re$ognition 'ith others" it 'o%l# be ironi$ to go ba$/ an# *reten# to ta/e %* the *ers*e$tie o! the
ato&ist or soli*sist. (15) )n other 'or#s" 'hen one !in#s onesel! in a relationshi* 'ith another in 'hi$h
neither *erson atte&*ts to #o&inate the other b%t rather a$/no'le#ges that ea$h *erson3s sense o!
in#e*en#en$e is a$t%ally *re#i$ate# on a /in# o! #e*en#en$e (i.e." the nee# that one be re$ogni6e# by
the other)" it be$o&es strange" retrogra#e" an# arti!i$ial to try to see/ in#e*en#en$e thro%gh the
#o&ination o! others. 7! $o%rse" *eo*le #o go ba$/ in (%st this 'ay" an# one &ight een s%ggest that
the nor& !or h%&an behaior is *re$isely this retrogra#e a$tiity. B%t 0egel3s *oint is not that there is
anything %nintelligible or in$oherent abo%t this &oe. 0egel arg%es that !ro& a $ertain *hiloso*hi$al
*oint o! ie'" going ba$/ 'ill see& ironi$4 it 'ill be tainte# by a sense o! /no'ing that one is being
i&&at%re" ba$/'ar#s" that one (%st /no's better. This *hiloso*hi$al *oint o! ie' is one that
*res%**oses the ali#ity o! the notion o! s%*ersession" the i#ea that so&e *ers*e$ties or &o#es o!
$ons$io%sness hae internal tensions that are resole# or s%*erse#e# by other *oints o! ie'.
0egelian ironists" then" so&eti&es hae #o%bts abo%t the o$ab%lary they e&*loy in thin/ing abo%t
their a$tions an# en#s" na&ely 'hen they s%s*e$t that they hae gone ba$/ to a *osition that ha#
alrea#y been s%*erse#e#. B%t .ortyan ironists are those 'ho hae general #o%bts abo%t their
o$ab%lary" not be$a%se o! 'here they *la$e it in a line o! s%*ersessions" b%t be$a%se they thin/ that
any o$ab%lary is (%st as $ontingent as the ne+t" an# that they hae no a**eal to tr%th aailable to the&
o%tsi#e o! their $%rrent o$ab%lary. @either the 0egelian nor the .ortyan ironist &a/es $lai&s to an
irre!%table tr%th or a o$ab%lary that is absol%te5 the 0egelian ironist" tho%gh" thin/s that there is a story
to be tol# abo%t ho' so&e o$ab%laries gie 'ay to others" an# thin/s that it is &eaning!%l to thin/
abo%t 'here one3s o$ab%lary !alls in this line. The .ortyan !in#s all o$ab%laries e-%ally ironi$" b%t
the 0egelian !in#s so&e o$ab%laries to be &ore or less ironi$ than others.
)! the *heno&enologi$al arg%&ent aboe is $orre$t" i! it sho's that the (.ortyan) ironist &o#e o!
$ons$io%sness establishes $riteria that $annot be satis!ie#" then 0egel3s ie' 'o%l# be that there &%st
be so&e other set o! $riteria the !r%strate# ironist $an ta/e %* that stan# a better $han$e o! being
satis!ie#. (16) 8n# i! this ne' set o! $riteria" an# the ne' &o#e o! $ons$io%sness that is e+*ressie o!
these $riteria" resole so&e o! the tensions o! the ironist &o#e" then yo% hae a s%*ersession. 8n# a!ter
one reali6es an# e+*erien$es the !r%stration o! being an ironist" an# ta/es on the ne' &o#e o!
$ons$io%sness" going ba$/ an# trying to re$a*t%re the naiete o! the no' s%*erse#e# &o#e o!
$ons$io%sness 'o%l# be ironi$ (in the 0egelian sense).
<%rely .orty 'o%l# not #isagree that *eo*le so&eti&es !ig%re o%t that the 'ay they are loo/ing at
things is silly" ine!!i$ient" or $ontra#i$tory" an# so e+$hange their $%rrent o$ab%lary !or a ne' one. )n
!a$t" .orty &ay not een $ontest the $on$l%sions o! the 0egelian arg%&ent here. B%t he 'o%l# $ertainly
$ontest the reasoning that lea#s to these $on$l%sions an# insist that one #oes not nee# *hiloso*hy to
e+*lain ho' or 'hy this ha**ens4 it is (%st 'hat &o#erately re!le$tie *eo*le #o all the ti&e. 0e 'o%l#
$hara$teri6e &y arg%&ent as an atte&*t to &a/e an %tterly &%n#ane *roble& abo%t ho' *eo*le thin/
abo%t their $hoi$es an# *ro(e$ts into a s*e$i!i$ally *hiloso*hi$al *roble& by e&*loying a o$ab%lary
that *riileges ter&s that a%to&ati$ally gie &y $lai&s !or$e. .orty has no reserations abo%t
histori$ally in!or&e# stories abo%t 'hat has ha**ene# an# 'hat 'e $an reasonably ho*e to ha**en in
the !%t%re (;<" 232)" b%t he 'ants to aoi# any s%$h story that is also a *hiloso*hi$al one" one that $an
be li/ene# to 0egel3s atte&*t to be the 1last *hiloso*her1 an# to generate a !inal o$ab%lary (C)" 106).
)n his ie'" regar#less o! ho' &any o$ab%laries one ta/es %* an# aban#ons" any o$ab%lary is (%st as
ironi$ as the ne+t.
There is an arg%&ent to be &a#e that 0egel3s 'ay o! tal/ing abo%t s%*ersession #oes a better (ob o!
$a*t%ring the 'ay &ost *eo*le a$t%ally thin/ abo%t *ra$ti$al rationality" an# in#ee# better e+*lains the
'ay *eo*le learn an# #eelo* as in#ii#%als. 8n# sin$e &y inter*retation o! 0egel3s ie's #oes not
rely on &eta*hysi$al or essentialist $lai&s" an# ten#s to e&*hasi6e his inter*retation o! history" $%lt%re"
an# *oliti$s" ) thin/ this arg%&ent $an be &a#e 'itho%t triggering any o! .orty3s stan#ar# ri*ostes. B%t
no one $o%l# 1'in1 this arg%&ent 'ith .orty" so the &ost reasonable &oe here is to shi!t the b%r#en to
hi& to e+*lain 'hy 'e sho%l# *re!er to *resere the i&&e#ia$y o! his ersion o! irony instea# $arrying
o%t o%r best e!!orts to thin/ rigoro%sly an# *hiloso*hi$ally abo%t 'hether o%r &o#els o! *ra$ti$al
rationality are the best (least ironi$) 'e $an #eelo*.
(1.) D.?.F. 0egel" 0egel3s 8estheti$s4 2e$t%res on Fine 8rt" Eol. )" trans. T. M. >no+" (7+!or#4 7+!or#
F;" 1BBB)" 66.
(2.) <ee" !or e+a&*le" his essay 1;ost&o#ernist Bo%rgeois 2iberalis&"1 originally rea# at the 8&eri$an
;hiloso*hi$al 8sso$iation Aastern :iision &eetings in 1B83" in Contingen$y" )rony" an# <oli#arity
(@e' Gor/4 Ca&bri#ge F;" 1B8B)" herea!ter $ite# as C)5 an# 8$hieing 7%r Co%ntry4 2e!tist Tho%ght
in T'entieth,Cent%ry 8&eri$a (Ca&bri#ge4 0arar# F;" 1BB8)" herea!ter $ite# as 8C.
(3.) ) a& thin/ing here es*e$ially o! Tales o! the Mighty :ea#4 0istori$al Assays in the Meta*hysi$s o!
)ntentionality (Ca&bri#ge4 0arar# F;" 2002)" b%t also Ma/ing )t A+*li$it4 .easoning" .e*resenting"
an# :is$%rsie Co&&it&ent (Ca&bri#ge4 0arar# F;" 1BB8).
(4.) 0e #oes $lai&" ho'eer" that *hiloso*hy $an hae so&e so$ial %tility" b%t only in the ery long r%n"
in the sense it 'ill hae been goo# !or so$iety to hae been able to hel* #eelo* highly $reatie an#
i#iosyn$rati$ in#ii#%als" 'ho 'ere *res%&ably ai#e# in their sel!,$reation by 0ei#egger an# :erri#a.
<ee .orty3s interie' 'ith Chronis ;oly$hronio%" 9an%ary,Febr%ary 2001" in Ta/e Care o! Free#o&
an# Tr%th ?ill Ta/e Care o! )tsel!.1 )nterie's ?ith .i$har# .orty" e#. A#%ar#o Men#ieta (<tan!or#4
<tan!or# F;" 2005)" B6.
(5.) The arg%&ent is in the !irst s%bse$tion o! 1)n#ii#%ality 'hi$h ta/es itsel! to be real in an# !or
itsel!3 an# has the title 1The s*irit%al ani&al /ing#o& an# #e$eit" or the 3&atter in han#3 itsel!.1 <ee the
;heno&enology o! <*irit" trans" by 8. E. Miller (7+!or#4 7+!or# F;" 1B==)" *aragra*hs 3B4,418.
0erea!ter $ite# in the te+t as ; an# by *aragra*h n%&ber. <ee .obert <olo&on" )n the <*irit o! 0egel
(7+!or#4 7+!or# F;" 1B83)" 514,225 an# Dary <ha*iro" 1@otes on the 8ni&al >ing#o& o! the <*irit"1
Clio 8 (1B=B)4 323,38.
(6.) ) 'ill be #ra'ing rather generally on &any o! .orty3s te+ts" !ro& C) to the three ol%&es o!
*hiloso*hi$al *a*ers" i.e." 7b(e$tiity" .elatiis&" an# Tr%th (Ca&bri#ge4 Ca&bri#ge F;" 1BB1)"
herea!ter $ite# as 7.5 Assays on 0ei#egger an# 7thers (Ca&bri#ge4 Ca&bri#ge F;" 1BB1)" herea!ter
$ite# as A05 an# Tr%th an# ;rogress (Ca&bri#ge4 Ca&bri#ge F;" 1BB8)" herea!ter $ite# in the te+t as
T;.
(=.) 8ll o! these general *oints are !ro& 0egel3s Ale&ents o! ;hiloso*hy o! .ight" trans. 8llen ?. ?oo#
(Ca&bri#ge4 Ca&bri#ge F;" 1BB1).
(8.) This arg%&ent is #eelo*e# &ainly in .orty3s 8C" b%t also in ;hiloso*hy an# <o$ial 0o*e (@e'
Gor/4 ;eng%in Boo/s" 1BBB)" herea!ter $ite# as ;<" an# to a lesser e+tent C).
(B.) ) &ight a## that ) re(e$t .orty3s assertion that 1the $losest 0egel got to the *rag&atist #o$trine 'as
his #i$t%& that *hiloso*hy is its o'n ti&e hel# in tho%ght"1 b%t that 1#es*ite this histori$is&" 0egel
$o%l# neer bring hi&sel! to assert the *ri&a$y o! the *ra$ti$al oer the theoreti$al1 (8C" 2=).
(10.) .i$har# .orty" 1;rag&atis& as .o&anti$ ;olytheis&"1 in The .eial o! ;rag&atis&4 @e'
Assays on <o$ial Tho%ght" 2a'" an# C%lt%re" e#. Morris :i$/stein (:%rha&4 :%/e F;" 1BB8)" 25,30.
(11.) My $on$erns here are si&ilar to Cornell ?est3s in The 8&eri$an Aasion o! ;hiloso*hy4 8
Denealogy o! ;rag&atis& (Ma#ison4 F o! ?is$onsin ;" 1B8B)" s*e$i!i$ally regar#ing his $riti$is&s o!
.orty3s general #istr%st o! theory. ?est arg%es that 1a &ore re!ine# *rag&atis&" one that *reseres its
histori$ist sense an# genealogi$al ai&s" a$$ents both $onse-%en$es an# s*e$i!i$ *ra$ti$es in light o! a
set o! *roisional an# reisable theoreti$al !ra&e'or/s 'hile it resists gran# theories.... This resistan$e
to an# s%s*i$ion o! gran# theories is not to be $on!%se# 'ith an aersion to theory *er se1 (20B).
(12.) This sa&e arg%&ent &ight see& to a**ly as 'ell to <oren >ier/egaar#3s #e!ense o! ra#i$al
s%b(e$tiity" b%t >ier/egaar# is not $o&&itte# to any /in# o! e+*ression. 0e is satis!ie# to say that
s%b(e$tiity at a $ertain leel is &ysterio%s. B%t .orty nee#s e+*ression here" an# so is s%s$e*tible to
this arg%&ent.
(13.) <ee .orty" C)" BB" 'here he res*on#s this 'ay to 9ean,;a%l <artre3s notion that h%&anity is a
1!%tile *assion.1
(14.) ) a& a#o*ting Charles Taylor3s $hara$teri6ation o! the 0egelian 8%!heb%ng as a 1s%*ersession
arg%&ent1 be$a%se ) &ean to e&*hasi6e that it is !ar &ore int%itie an# less esoteri$ than 0egel3s
ter&inology &ight s%ggest. Taylor #is$%sse# the nat%re o! s%*ersession arg%&ents an# their lin/ to
0egel in his res*onse to 9%rgen 0aber&as at the 10egel an# 0is 2ega$y1 $on!eren$e at @orth'estern
Fniersity" Aanston" )llinois" @oe&ber 14,15" 1BB8.
(15.) This is 0egel3s a$$o%nt in ;. My ie' o! 0egelian irony" 'hi$h ) $all 1retrogressie irony"1 is
#i!!erent than si&*le ling%isti$ irony5 it inoles a /in# o! #isse&bling" the $loa/ing o! &eaning" the
s%ggestion that there is so&ething &ore going on that is i&&e#iately a**arent" tho%gh the ironist is not
in a *osition to say or arg%e abo%t 'hat the larger *i$t%re is. .etrogressie irony s%ggests that
so&ething #ee* has been hi##en !ro& ie'" b%t 'itho%t the *ro&ise that the #e*th $an be arti$%late#"
'itho%t the g%arantee that anything 'ill eer be %n&as/e#. )n the $onte+t o! &o#es o! $ons$io%sness"
*hiloso*hi$al ie's" an# 'ays o! li!e" retrogressie irony &erely s%ggests that battles hae been !o%ght
an# 'on4 one 1goes ba$/1 on a s%*ersession by ta/ing %* the o$ab%lary o! the s%*er$e#e# ie' an#
i&*lies that one is (%sti!ie# in so #oing" that there is a bigger *i$t%re that (%sti!ies this retrogression.
(16.) )n 0egel3s ;heno&enology" $ons$io%sness ta/es %* the atte&*t to establish !or itsel! so&e sort o!
%niersal so$ial nor&" 'hi$h resoles the tensions o! its ironist,ty*e &o#e by tra#ing the nee# to
e+*ress its %ni-%eness !or the nee# to e+*ress a %niersal an# bin#ing so$ial nor&. <ee ;" 418,20.
Minnesota <tate Fniersity
Man/ato" Minnesota