Rightness and Reasons

Must there be a single right interpretation of a particular cultural entity? In his book Michael Krausz considers this question in such representative cultural practices as music, visual art, history, and cross-cultural understanding.

Krausz advances two main theses. First, he argues, the notion that there must be a single right interpretation in cultural practices—the "singularist" view—is misplaced. Without acceding to an interpretive anarchism, he embraces the "multiplist" view that cultural practices characteristically allow a multiplicity of ideally admissible interpretations. In his discussion Krausz critically outlines the maneuvers available to both singularists and multiplists.

Second, Krausz notes that singularists characteristically construe their objects-of-interpretation along realist lines, and multiplists along constructionist lines.
But, he argues, these associations are not necessary: the singularist condition is not guaranteed by realism, nor the multiplist by constructionism. Krausz holds that the question of interpretive ideals is detachable from the dispute between realists and constructionists.

Addressing topics of intense concern within mainstream analytic philosophy and in many other areas of cultural investigation, Rightness and Reasons will be
rewarding reading for aestheticians, musicologists, art historians, literary theorists, historiographers, and anthropologists.

Michael Krausz is the Milton C. Nahm Professor of Philosophy at Bryn Mawr College.

Michael Krausz's views are refreshingly sensible, moderate, and helpful in their implications. The line of thought he strikes out is certainly original and he deals impressively well with it. His book is a model of philosophical clarity.