Searle and Foucault on Truth

Comparing John Searle and Michel Foucault s radically opposed views on truth, this book demonstrates the need for invigorating cross-fertilization between the analytic and Continental philosophical traditions. By pressing beyond familiar clich?s about analytic philosophy and postmodernism, a surprising convergence of Searle and Foucault s thought on truth emerge. Prado rebuts the analytic impression of Michel Foucault as a radical relativist and shows that Foucault not only is a realist, but also is much closer than many imagine to John Searle and Donald Davidson, both model analytic thinkers.

This book compares John Searle and Michel Foucault's radically opposed views on truth in order to demonstrate the need for invigorating cross-fertilization between the analytic and Continental philosophical traditions. By pressing beyond familiar clichés about analytic philosophy and postmodernism, a surprising convergence of Searle and Foucault's thought on truth emerge. The analytic impression of Foucault is of a radical relativist whose views on truth entail linguistic idealism. Searle himself has contributed to this impression through his aggressive critique of postmodern thinkers, especially Derrida. Prado lays this misperception to rest, showing analytic philosophers that Foucault's ideas about truth are defensible and merit serious attention, while also demonstrating to Continental philosophers that Searle's cannot be ignored.

1. Polar opposites; 2. Searle; 3. Foucault; 4. Truth, reality, and confirmation; 5. Truth and realism.

This book compares John Searle and Michel Foucault's radically opposed views on truth in order to demonstrate the need for invigorating cross-fertilization between the analytic and Continental philosophical traditions. By pressing beyond familiar clichés about analytic philosophy and postmodernism, a surprising convergence of Searle and Foucault's thought on truth emerge.

C. G. Prado is Professor Emeritus in the Philosophy Department at Queen's University, Ontario. A recipient of grants and fellowships from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, the Canada Council, and Queen's University, he is the author and editor of many articles and books, including A House Divided: Comparing Analytic and Continental Philosophers and Illusions of Faith: A Critique of Noncredal Religions.