Spectres of Anti-communism: Richard Rorty and Leftist Thought in Twentieth–Century America

Abstract

Abstract: This article is a close reading of the late philosopher Richard Rorty's critique of the 1960s and of several prominent New Left intellectuals in his book Achieving Our Country. Rorty argues that the depth of animus generated by these American critiques of US foreign policy and society as well as by the turn toward identity-based politics was too severe and had the long-term effect of weakening and undermining progressive and left-wing political traditions within the United States. The article questions both Rorty's representation of the legacy of New Left intellectuals, as well as Rorty's own personal political positioning and identifications. Rather than providing a way forward, or reconciliation between differing progressive traditions in the United States, the article argues that Rorty continues in the tradition of sectarian debate and rejection of differing political positions. Thus, Rorty ends up reproducing the very sort of critique that he seeks to transcend and move beyond.