Abstract:
In this paper I attempt to examine Richard Rorty's defense of liberalism, particularly his critique to the Kantian tradition, which seems to be associated to a significant part of the politically liberal philosophy. I will analyze 1) the re-description of the moral obligation concept that the philosopher develops as alternative to the Kantian conception; 2) the contextualist or ethnocentric interpretation of Rawl's theory, with which Rorty tries to support his own perspective. I will try to show that, against his intentions, the position defended by Rorty would give place to serious objections against some of the central ideas of liberalism. I will criticize the conception of morality proposed by Rorty as an alternative to the conceptions based on Kantian roots.