Robert B. Talisse

Degrees

M.A. (1995) New York University
Ph.D. (2001) City University of New York Graduate School

Research Area

Robert Talisse specializes in contemporary political philosophy, with particular interest in democratic theory and liberalism. His most recent work engages issues at the intersection of political theory and epistemology. In addition, he pursues topics in pragmatism, analytic philosophy, and ancient philosophy.

Current Research

Talisse’s most recent book is Pluralism and Liberal Politics (Routledge, 2012). In it, he argues that the most distinctive varieties of pluralism should be rejected and in any case are unfriendly to liberal politics. His other books include Democracy and Moral Conflict (Cambridge University Press, 2009) and Reasonable Atheism (co-authored with Scott Aikin, Prometheus Books, 2011). Recent and forthcoming articles examine religion in politics, epistemic norms in political discourse, group polarization, public ignorance, and neo-republican conceptions of freedom. He is presently completing a book with Scott Aikin about public political argumentation.

SSRN Author Page

Personal Webpage (includes full list of publications and downloadable off-prints)

Recent Courses

In the fall of 2012, Talisse will teach a graduate seminar on Pragmatism. Recent graduate seminars include: Contemporary Political Philosophy; Pragmatism and Politics; Responsibility and Global Justice; Deliberative Democracy; Democracy and Religious Conviction; and Political Theory after Rawls. At the undergraduate level, Talisse regularly teaches a course in formal logic and various courses in social and political philosophy.

Selected Publications

Books

Pluralism and Liberal Politics, Routledge (2012)
Reasonable Atheism (with Scott Aikin), Prometheus (2011)
Democracy and Moral Conflict, Cambridge University Press (2009)
Pragmatism: A Guide for the Perplexed (with Scott Aikin), Continuum (2008)
A Pragmatist Philosophy of Democracy, Routledge (2007; paperback 2008)
Democracy After Liberalism, Routledge (2005)

Articles

"Religion, Respect, and Eberle's Agapic Pacifist," Philosophy & Social Criticism (forthcoming)
"Towards a New Pragmatist Politics," Metaphilosophy 42.5(2011): 552-571
"A Farewell to Deweyan Democracy," Political Studies 59.3 (2011): 509-526
"Value Pluralism and Liberal Politics," Ethical Theory and Moral Practice 14.1(2011): 87-100
"Argument in Mixed Company," with Scott Aikin, Think 10.27(2011):31-43
"Does Value Pluralism Entail Liberalism?," Journal of Moral Philosophy 7.3(2010): 303-320
"An Epistemological Defense of Democracy," Critical Review 22.2-3 (2010): 279-289
"Nagel on Public Education and Intelligent Design," with Scott Aikin and Michael Harbour, Journal of Philosophical Research 35 (2010): 209-219
"Can Liberals Take Their Own Side in an Argument?," in Philosophy of Education in the Era of Globalization, Yvonne Raley and Gerhard Preyer, eds. Routledge (2010)
"Questions about Normative Consent," with Michael Harbour, The Good Society 18.2(2009): 48-53
"Précis of A Pragmatist Philosophy of Democracy" and "Replies to My Critics," contributions to a symposium on my A Pragmatist Philosophy of Democracy in Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society. 45.1 (2009)
“Pragmatism and the Cold War,” in The Oxford Handbook of American Philosophy, Cheryl Misak, ed., Oxford University Press (2009)
“Modus Tonens,” with Scott Aikin in Argumentation, 22.4 (2008) 521-529.
“Abortion Activism and Civil Discourse,” with Steven Maloney in Critical Review , 20.1-2 (2008) 167-179.
“Folk Epistemology and the Justification of Democracy,” in Does Truth Matter?, Ronald Tinnevelt and Katia Vanhemelryck, eds., Springer (2009)
“Towards A Social Epistemic Comprehensive Liberalism,,” Episteme 5.1(2008): 106-128
“Kitcher on the Ethics of Inquiry” (with Scott Aikin), Journal of Social Philosophy, 38.4(2007): 654-665, with a response by Philip Kitcher, “Reply to Talisse and Aikin”
“Democracy and Ignorance,” Critical Review 18.4(2007): 453-466
“From Pragmatism to Perfectionism,” Philosophy & Social Criticism33.3 (2007): 387-406
“Two Forms of the Straw Man” (with Scott Aikin), Argumentation 20.3(2006): 345-352
“Social Epistemology and the Politics of Omission,” Episteme 2.2 (2006): 107-118
“Deliberative Democracy Defended,” Res Publica 11.2 (2005): 185-199
“Liberalism, Pluralism, and Political Justification,” Harvard Review of Philosophy, XIII.2 (2005): 57-72
“Deliberativist Responses to Activist Challenges,” Philosophy & Social Criticism, 31.4 (2005): 423-444
“Does Public Ignorance Defeat Deliberative Democracy? ,” Critical Review, 16.4 (2005): 455-463
“Can Value Pluralists be Comprehensive Liberals?,” Contemporary Political Theory, 3.2 (2004): 127-139, with a response by William Galston

For off-prints of publications, please click here or here.

Blogs and Podcasts

Talisse is a monthly Monday contributor to the blog 3 Quarks Daily.
Talisse is co-host (with Carrie Figdor) of the podcast New Books in Philosophy.