文章基本信息

标题：A Roundtable on Globalization
本地全文：下载
作者：Gianni Vattimo ; Charles Taylor ; Richard Rorty. 等
期刊名称：Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory
电子版ISSN：1530-5228
出版年度：2007
卷号：8
期号：2
出版社：The Whitestone Foundation
摘要：Gianni Vattimo, Charles Taylor and Richard Rorty are in no need of an introduction. They are three of the world's most discussed philosophers, leading in the fields of hermeneutics, pragmatism, and moral philosophy. They are also influential public intellectuals commanding a broad audience throughout North America and Europe. This roundtable discussion on globalization was conducted in Italy in 2001 months after the inauguration of George W. Bush for his first term as president and months before the events of September 11. While it primarily concerns the economics of globalization, each of the interlocutors also identify some worrying trends they see in the early months of the Bush administration such as the unquestioned faith in the neo-liberal economic policies of free trade, the disregard for world opinion, and the inordinate influence of the military-industrial complex. Their conversation stands as a reminder of an earlier promise from then candidate Bush that he would conduct foreign affairs with a greater sense of humility. Since September 11th, however, he and his administration have harnessed and manipulated the politics of fright to tremendous effect by waging a perpetual war on terror in the name of VATTIMO, TAYLOR & RORTY: Roundtable on Globalization 152 JCRT 8.2 (Spring 2007) democracy. With the possible exception of various regimes in Latin America, the Left has been unable to mount any meaningful political response. Vattimo, Rorty, and Taylor indicate here how the seeming impotence of the Left was and remains a cause for great concern and a matter demanding the most rigorous political debate and philosophical scrutiny. It is with that challenge in mind that the JCRT proudly offers up this important and still timely exchange for our readers. We would like to offer our thanks to Giuseppe Iannantuono for making the original Italian version of this roundtable exchange available to us, Luca D'Isanto for his translation, and Santiago Zabala for his invaluable assistance in countless ways. Finally, we must acknowledge with regret the very recent death of Richard Rorty on June 8, 2007. The music producer Brian Eno eulogized in Slate magazine's tribute to Rorty: "I have treasured his witty, urbane, and generous voice, and followed his writing assiduously since first hearing about him in the late '80s. He was the first philosopher whose thinking really changed my mind. It has stayed changed. My hope was that now, of all times, he might be heard more widely, that he might change some other minds." . For related materials from the JCRT, see the following: . Diane Johnson's review of Daniel Cohen, Globalization and its Enemies, in the present issue. . Phillip Larrey, review of Richard Rorty and Gianni Vattimo, The Future of Religion, edited by Santiago Zabala, from the Spring 2005 issue of the journal. VATTIMO: President Bush holds that globalization helps the world's poor, but they are not persuaded by him. Neither are those who rally against globalization—the so-called "people of Seattle"—who do not really represent the poor. Not to mention the underdeveloped nations, who are also not very enthusiastic about Bush or about his view. Why. In theory economic trade should bring about benefits and advantages for all, since this is what happened with Western capitalism: it expanded borders, increased production, wealth and so on. Why, then, are we so dubious. TAYLOR: The example of the great industrial process of the nineteenth century shows that while industrialization may be good for all in the long-run, in the short-term it may have catastrophic effects on most of the population. Among those negatively affected are those whose jobs are most at risk because the great industries might be shutting down soon. This situation could continue for quite a democracy. With the possible exception of various regimes in Latin America, the Left has been unable to mount any meaningful political response. Vattimo, Rorty, and Taylor indicate here how the seeming impotence of the Left was and remains a cause for great concern and a matter demanding the most rigorous political debate and philosophical scrutiny. It is with that challenge in mind that the JCRT proudly offers up this important and still timely exchange for our readers