SOURCE: '"We Pragmatiste . . .': Peirce and Roy in Conversation," in Partisan Review, Vol. 64, No. 1, Winter 1997, pp. 91-107.

In the following excerpt, Haack moderates a mock dialogue on the nature of knowledge and truth between philosophers Peirce and Richard Rorty, using original writings of the two men.

SUSAN HAACK: Let me begin by asking Professor Rorty to explain how he feels about philosophers like you, Mr. Peirce, who take themselves to be seeking the truth.

RICHARD RORTY: It is . . . more difficult than it used to be to locate a real live metaphysical prig. [But] you can still find [philosophers] who will solemnly tell you that they are seeking the truth, not just a story or a consensus but an honest-to-God, down-home, accurate representation of the way the world is . . . lovably old-fashioned prigs (EHO, p. 86).

SUSAN HAACK: Mr. Peirce?

CHARLES SANDERS PEIRCE: In order to reason well . . . , it is...