Pragmatism, Naturalism, Subjectivity

1. The first paper examines the explanatory relation between thought and meaning, as this is handled by Rorty and other neo-pragmatists. I argue that a multi-dimensional notion of mind, acknowledging a range of mental capacities that do not presuppose lan guage, is better suited to the naturalistic and ethical aspirations of pragmatism. 2. The second paper considers the naturalistic basis for Rorty's critique of systematic metaphysics, and aims to bring out the commitments that determine Rorty's conce ption of metaphysics. I will argue that Rorty?s conception of metaphysics is specifically tied to his historicism, and that both his conception of metaphysics as a philosophical dead-end as well as his understanding of what form a philosophical counterpoi nt to metaphysics can take, has undergone a distinctive development in the course of Rorty's thinking since Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature (Rorty, 1979) 3. The third line of research philosophy of language, sociolinguistics and democracy theory wil l be combined in an attempt to examine the conditions of legitimacy of political processes and decisions determining language norms.