The Connection Between Imagination with Hope, Progress and Social Solidarity in the Philosophy of Richard Rorty

This article deals with the place of imagination in the philosophy of Richard Rorty. Imagination is thought to play a key role in his philosophy and understanding its place in his thought can help us understand the true mission of his philosophy. It seems that Rorty is trying to replace imagination with reasoning. We show that this alternative arises from the logical necessity of Rorty’s philosophy so that such an initiative can be considered in line with his critical view of the idea of “truth” and replacing it with the idea of “justification”. From this point of view, imagination can provide the ground for progress, hope and social solidarity by creating alternatives for existing situations. In this article, in the form of the place of imagination in Rorty’s thought, an attempt is made to examine the idea of imagination and its place in relation to the key concepts of Rorty’s philosophy, including hope, social solidarity and democracy. It seems that imagination is a key concept in Rorty’s philosophy, and this philosopher can implement his project under the title of new pragmatism only by relying on the element of imagination as a substitute for the reason.