Theessent aloffers a systematic guide to a fruitful reading of Rorty. At the same time, it provides a brief introduction to the main features of Richard Rorty's neopragmatism. The author proposes to read it as a fragile balance of pragmatism and romanticism by which Rorty seeks to change our self-image. Moreover, he elucidates this transformative ambition through a sketch of 'continence, irony, and solidarity' and the utopian figure of the liberal ironist. Theessentialconcludes with a reference to Rorty's hitherto unrecognized ethico-political motivation and with a methodological suggestion for further reading of his texts: One must apply the pragmatist method to himself.

Dr. Martin Müller is a flight captain and lecturer in philosophy at the Munich Volkshochschule. A long-time Rorty interpreter, he is currently on the board of the Richard Rorty Society.