What Is Postmodernism?

Summary

The video delves into the intellectual shift from modernism to postmodernism, exploring key philosophical arguments and the impact of both movements on society. Modernism, with its belief in human progress through objective truth, is challenged by postmodernists who argue that knowledge is subjective and socially constructed. Postmodernism complicates the narrative of objective reality and critiques modernist values, highlighting hidden power dynamics. The video contrasts original French postmodernists' skepticism with the radical postmodernism that emerged in the late 20th century, blending these ideas with identity politics and emphasizing personal truths, cultural relativism, and social construction.

Takeaways

• 😀 Modernism values truth, knowledge, reason, and progress, believing in human advancement through the development of knowledge.
• 😀 Postmodernism emerged as a critique of modernism, challenging the belief in objective truth and advocating for subjective, socially-constructed knowledge.
• 😀 Postmodernists argue that no one perspective is objectively superior, and knowledge is a human creation influenced by language and societal context.
• 😀 Postmodernism questions the privileged frameworks, like science, that dominate modern thought, suggesting that other perspectives may be marginalized or oppressed.
• 😀 One key postmodernist critique is that science, as a human endeavor, is inherently biased and has historically been used to oppress other cultures.
• 😀 Postmodernism challenges the modernist view that certain systems (like the scientific method) are universally superior and objective.
• 😀 Postmodern thinkers highlight hidden power dynamics in social constructions and encourage us to question the power structures behind knowledge creation.
• 😀 The original postmodernists were skeptical of metanarratives—overarching stories about how the world works—believing they oversimplify and marginalize alternative perspectives.
• 😀 Radical postmodernism, especially in the 1980s and 90s, fused postmodernist ideas with leftist identity politics, focusing on issues like race, gender, and oppression.
• 😀 Radical postmodernists are less hesitant about creating their own metanarratives, asserting personal truth over objective truth and embracing social construction as a lens for understanding identity and oppression.

Q & A

What is the core belief of modernism?

Modernism is based on the belief in human progress through the development of knowledge. It emphasizes human reasoning, objective truth, and progress, seeking to refine human thinking and eliminate lazy or inaccurate thoughts.

Why is modernism considered controversial?

Modernism's reliance on empiricism to establish objective truth is controversial, particularly for those who believe in the importance of non-empirical factors, such as spiritual or religious beliefs, which modernism tends to exclude.

Who were the original postmodernists and what did they oppose?

The original postmodernists were French intellectuals in the 1960s, who opposed modernism. They critiqued the restrictive nature of modernist thinking, arguing that it overlooked other perspectives and failed to account for subjective truths.

What is the central critique of postmodernism towards modernism?

Postmodernism criticizes modernism's belief in objective, verifiable truth. It argues that knowledge is a subjective social construct, shaped by human perception and language, and thus cannot be fully objective or universal.

How do postmodernists view knowledge and truth?

Postmodernists view knowledge as a subjective social construct, not something external waiting to be discovered. They argue that all attempts to understand reality are influenced by human perception and linguistic frameworks, making them inherently flawed.

What does postmodernism say about cultural relativism?

Postmodernism embraces cultural relativism, suggesting that there is no single objectively superior framework for understanding the world. This means that one culture's values or truths are not necessarily better than those of another culture.

What is the role of power dynamics in postmodern thought?

Postmodernism emphasizes the hidden dynamics of power in all aspects of society. It seeks to unmask these dynamics, particularly how power structures marginalize certain groups or ideas, and aims to make people aware of these influences to foster greater freedom.

How do postmodernists critique science?

Postmodernists critique science by highlighting its inherent biases and historical misapplications. They argue that science has been used as a tool of oppression and is not as objective as modernists claim. However, they do not call for the abandonment of science, only a more critical view of its limitations.

What is the key difference between original postmodernism and radical postmodernism?

Original postmodernism was skeptical of grand narratives and avoided making strong, prescriptive statements. Radical postmodernism, however, has become more assertive in creating its own meta-narratives, often promoting identity politics and rejecting traditional rationality in favor of subjective truths.

What is meant by 'incredulity towards metanarratives' in postmodernism?

'Incredulity towards metanarratives' refers to postmodernism's skepticism toward large, overarching stories or theories about how the world works. It challenges the idea that there is one universal, objective explanation and instead promotes the view that such narratives are socially constructed and potentially oppressive.