How did Richard Rorty criticize the Cartesian search for certain knowledge?

Richard Rorty criticized the Cartesian search for certain knowledge by arguing that it is a misguided holdover from the historical quest for God. In his view, while certainty regarding God’s existence may have been considered necessary for salvation, seeking similar absolute certainty in science and daily life is both hopeless and unnecessary.1

Rorty contended that philosophy within the Cartesian tradition functions as a 20th-century substitute for theology. He rejected the Cartesian demand for certain knowledge of an objectively existing world through representative ideas, characterizing such efforts as a mistaken enterprise. Instead of pursuing objective truth or foundational certainty, Rorty argued that philosophy should serve as an intellectual "conversation" aimed at resolving conflicts and achieving mutual understanding. Ultimately, he suggested that the Cartesian pursuit of certainty should be "gently laid to rest" in the same manner as the concept of God.12