Without doubt Richard Rorty is one of the most honored, famous and disputed philosophers of our days. All over the world interest in his inspiring and provoking thoughts goes beyond the circles of academic philosophy. The present volume includes The Brain as Hardware, Culture as Software and Philosophy-Envy of Richard Rorty, papers presented by students of the philosophy department at university of Munster and Rorty’s responses to and comments on them. Rorty’s lecture has been publicly presented at the 8. Munstersche Vorlesungen zur Philosophie on may 26th 2004. The students presented their intensively prepared papers on the following day. The volume gives an overview of the main topics of his philosophy as well as a detailed analysis of central concepts.

The papers are of very high quality indeed, and the level of discussion during the day I spent with the students was equally high. I have never, in any university, encountered students who combined such detailed knowledge of my writings with such penetrating criticisms of my views. (Richard Rorty)