Richard J. Bernstein (1932–2022)

In this book originally published in 1971, Richard Bernstein pulls together and compares four different movements in modern philosophy dealing with praxis or action: the Marxist tradition, existentialism, pragmatism and analytical philosophy. The first three (which address praxis) he puts in the context of influence by and reaction to Hegel. The fourth (which addresses action) treats Hegel as irrelevant and styles itself on modern science and linguistic philosophy. But Bernstein points out how analytical philosophy, through a dialectic of its own, begins to move unwittingly toward a recognition of Hegelian concepts. Bernstein is a lucid and disciplined writer who takes the reader from basic concepts to his own conclusions and observations. Thus, in the context of praxis/action, the book can serve as an introduction to the four movements as well as an insightful criticism of how each of them deal with the question of action, including criticism drawn from comparing how the movements deal with the issue in different ways.… (more)

Richard Bernstein examines the works of Gadamer, Habermas, Rorty, and Arendt. He focuses on some controversies to demonstrate changes in the discussion of human rationality. This goes beyond the traditional notions of reason, whether objective or not, expanding understanding and emphasizing its practical character. For example, in discussing Gadamer, Bernstein noted how he uses the concept of "play" to establish "an order" for the work of art. This is used in developing an ontology of art, i.e. what is their ontological status? How are works of art related to us and we to them? The work of art is not complete without the spectator (reader, listener, looker). This is perhaps easiest to imagine in the case of drama when the audience interacts, knowingly or not, with the actors in the process of the production of the work of art. For Gadamer "a work of art is seen as an event (or being). Understanding must be conceived as a part of the process of the coming into being of meaning."… (more)