From Empiricism to Expressivism: Brandom Reads Sellars

From Empiricism to Expressivism examines Wilfrid Sellars's philosophical work through Robert Brandom's distinctive interpretative lens. Brandom analyzes Sellars's critiques of empiricism and foundationalism while developing connections to contemporary debates in philosophy of mind, language, and epistemology. The book traces Sellars's arguments against the "Myth of the Given" and explores his alternative account of knowledge and meaning. It focuses particularly on Sellars's treatment of concepts, rules, and the relationship between mind and world. Brandom reconstructs Sellars's views on the nature of modal, normative, and intentional vocabulary, showing how these connect to broader questions about semantics and pragmatics. The analysis encompasses both Sellars's historical influences and his impact on subsequent philosophical developments. This work represents an important contribution to understanding the transition from empiricist to pragmatist approaches in 20th century philosophy. The text illuminates crucial shifts in how philosophers conceptualize meaning, knowledge, and the relationship between language and reality.

Readers report this is a challenging text that requires prior knowledge of both Brandom and Sellars' works. Philosophy students and academics note it helps clarify Sellars' influence on Brandom's thinking. Positive points: - Clear explanation of how Sellars' ideas shaped Brandom's work - Strong analysis of meaning and inference - Useful for understanding pragmatism and German idealism Criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Assumes extensive background knowledge - Some readers found the interpretations of Sellars debatable One reviewer on Goodreads noted "It assumes familiarity with both philosophers' major works - not for beginners." Another mentioned "The connections between semantics and pragmatics are well-explained but require careful reading." Ratings: Goodreads: 4.14/5 (7 ratings) Google Books: No ratings Amazon: No ratings The limited number of public reviews reflects the book's specialized academic audience.

Mind and World by John McDowell A philosophical investigation of the relationship between mind and reality that builds on Sellars' critique of the "myth of the given" while engaging with Kant and Hegel.

Tales of the Mighty Dead by Robert Brandom Essays on the history of philosophy that demonstrate pragmatic expressivism through readings of Leibniz, Hegel, Frege, and Heidegger.

Science, Perception and Reality by Wilfrid Sellars The foundational text that presents Sellars' critique of empiricism and establishes the philosophical framework Brandom develops in his expressivist project.

Between Saying and Doing by Robert Brandom An analysis of the relationship between meaning and use that extends the pragmatic expressivism found in Brandom's reading of Sellars.

Empiricism and the Philosophy of Mind by Wilfrid Sellars The seminal work that critiques classical empiricism and sense-data theories while developing an alternative account of knowledge and mental content.

🔹 Robert Brandom spent over four decades studying Wilfrid Sellars' work, beginning as a graduate student under Sellars' direct supervision at the University of Pittsburgh in the 1970s. 🔹 The book explores how Sellars bridged the gap between empiricist philosophers like Hume and German idealists like Kant, showing how both traditions contribute to our understanding of meaning and knowledge. 🔹 The term "expressivism" in the title refers to Sellars' innovative view that language isn't just about describing the world, but about making explicit the rules and commitments that govern our thinking and reasoning. 🔹 Brandom's interpretation of Sellars influenced contemporary debates about artificial intelligence and machine learning by highlighting the importance of understanding reasoning as a socially structured practice rather than just information processing. 🔹 The book demonstrates how Sellars' famous critique of the "Myth of the Given" (the idea that we have direct, unmediated access to sensory experiences) continues to shape modern discussions in cognitive science and philosophy of mind.