Rorty, Richard McKay (1931–2007)

US philosopher. His main concern was to trace the personal and social implications of our changing perception of human identity, and his work drew inspiration from US philosopher John Dewey and German social theorist Jürgen Habermas.

In his Contingency, Irony and Solidarity (1989), Rorty argued that language, self, and community are determined by history and are not expressions of an essential human nature. When we accept that human identity is not fixed, he argues, we then need to reconcile two seemingly conflicting consequences: at the personal level, the possibility of autonomy and self-creation; and at the public level, the need to create a freer and less cruel society.

He held teaching positions at Wellesley College, Princeton University, University of Virginia, and Stanford University.