Alterman: Left in Shambles

[Justin Schwartz]

West's work on pragmatism _is_ mediocre--not awful, not brilliant, just OK. 
But it _is_ OK, and people interest in pragmatism could do worse than loook 
to The American Evasion of Philosophy as a starting point. I think West's 
subsequent work has been pretty dull and second rate, not even mediocre. 
Race Matters is just puditry.

As for my snobbery, the degree I'm proudest of is my decidedly non-elite 
J.D. from Ohio State College of Law, which represents the best educational 
experience I ever had. Judge Posner was never a teacher or colleague of 
mine, nor was West. I am amazed that Jan remembers that David Papineau _was_ 
a teacher of mine; I don't think I've mentioned that; never had occasion to 
remark it. His name doesn't come up much in these circles.

-jks

If he were to be honest,
>Mr
>Schwartz would doubtless tell you that his much heralded work on prgamatism
>is mediocre at best, though of course only after Mr Schwartz had reminded
>you of every elite institution in which he has ever set foot ("Rorty
>commenting on Papineau commenting on Posner noted about West, all former
>teachers and now colleagues of mine though I am still stupid enough to have
>supported Nader").
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