Richard Rorty is one of the mostoft-cited yet least understood philosophers of the twentieth century. Thisbook offers an overview and introduction to Rorty's ideas, key writingsand contributions to the various fields of philosophy. Chronologicallyorganized, the book traces the development of Rorty's thought and examinesall the key topics, and controversies, central to his work.Ronald A. Kuipers introduces Rorty'scomplex thought through the exploration of three Rortyan personas: ThePhilosophical Therapist, The Liberal Ironist, and the Anticlerical Prophet. Thisexploration of Rorty's multivalent yet deeply coherent intellectual identity isset against the background of Rorty's personal motivations for studyingphilosophy, and for pursuing the controversial questions he did. The bookportrays how, in conversation with the traditions of American Pragmatism,Analytic Philosophy, and Continental Thought, Rorty weaves his own unique andoriginal philosophy. Rorty's originality resides in his fresh approach tointerrelated social and political problems, revealing a thinker who hasimportant reasons for wading into controversial intellectual waters. Thisis the ideal companion to study of this hugely influential thinker.