| Summary: | The purpose of this talk is to shed light on the innovative character of the metaethical thesis underlying classical pragmatism. I contrast John Dewey’s writings with one of the most prevalent contemporary metaethical theses, constructivism. I argue that growing interest in constructivism, especially since the publication of John Rawls’ Political Liberalism, must and should draw the attention of those interested in classical pragmatism. I show that the emphasis placed by constructivists on the actor’s practical point of view and on an ethical anti-realist position echo some of the most crucial intuitions made by pragmatists such as Dewey. The significance of this comparison is twofold: in addition to unveiling the groundbreaking character of the metaethical thesis behind classical pragmatism, it participates in a trend aimed at refining the dialogue between pragmatism and analytic philosophy – a trend to which scholars such as Huw Price, Sami Pihlstrom and Cheryl Misak have significantly contributed.
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