Richard Rorty was an American philosopher known for his contributions to pragmatism and his critique of traditional philosophy. He argued that knowledge is not a reflection of reality but a tool for coping with the world. Rorty emphasized the importance of language and conversation in shaping our understanding and rejected the idea of objective truth. Rorty's most influential work, Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature, challenges the notion that philosophy should aim to represent reality accurately. Instead, he proposed that philosophy should focus on fostering dialogue and promoting social progress, viewing it as a means to achieve practical goals rather than a quest for absolute answers.