The Race Debate without Metaphysics: A Neopragmatist Intervention

Metaphysicians of the social world have spilled much ink debating whether race exists and, if it does, what its metaphysical nature is. In this thesis, I defend a neopragmatist approach to the race debate that explains the notion without appeal to metaphysics. Before giving these arguments, I will give an overview of the current positions in the race debate. Then, I will explain neopragmatism and how I will be using it in my argument. With the neopragmatist methodology laid out, the rest of the thesis will be dedicated to applying the methodology to the notion at hand. Before closing, I argue that if my approach succeeds, the entire enterprise of metaphysical inquiry into race stands in need of justification.