Construction and "Worldmaking": the Significance of Nelson Goodman's Pluralism

• Published in: Theoria (Madrid, Spain) Spain), 2009-05, Vol.24 (2(65)), p.213-225
• Main Author: de Donato-Rodríguez, Xavier
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Constructivism; Metaphysics; Monographic Section: Construction and Reduction: New Essays in Honour of Nelson Goodman; Nelson Goodman, relativism, pluralism, worldmaking, constructivism, irrealism; Observational frames of reference; Ontological pluralism; Philosophical realism; Philosophy of science; Physical theory; Pluralist school; Radiation counters; Stars
• ISSN: 0495-4548; 2171-679X
• DOI: 10.1387/theoria.443

Goodman's style may be elusive sometimes, so that it may result difficult to interpret what he really has in mind. This is a consequence of his masterful use of irony and metaphorical language. This difficulty of interpretation affects important parts of his philosophical thoughts and had led to misunderstandings. In the present article, I discuss the significance of Goodman's pluralism, one of his most relevant theses. I try to show that Goodman's pluralism does not lead to skepticism or the relativism of "anything goes". One of the most common arguments directed against Goodman's pluralism is that his attempt to provide a genuine standard of "rightness" fails, leaving us without a conception of truth or an appropriate substitute. I will argue that the conclusion of this argument is false, trying to show that Goodman's aim of defending an irrealist pluralism is perfectly coherent and defensible against the common interpretation of his critics.