Abstract

In this article, Rorty’s theory of philosophical paradigm is considered in two stages: at first we describe and analyze his historical view about philosophical problems. In this stage, Rorty shows that philosophical history consists of three paradigms; metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of mind, each of which has its own special problems. Rorty pointed with his therapeutic method to the errors of philosophers in applying philosophical problems that related to one paradigm to another one, and he criticized representationalism. After that, his original view about knowledge was considered; he finally comes to this conclusion that philosophical problems should be set aside rather than solved. In the second phase of examining his view, we express some important criticisms including those of Habermas and Tailor. The latter disagrees with Rorty about discontinuity of philosophical paradigm. In the conclusion, Rorty’s view about philosophical paradigms is examined and criticized.