Modernism vs Postmodernism https://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/engl_258/Lecture Notes/modernism_... Drake 258 Modernism vs. Postmodernism The term ʺPostmodernʺ begins to make sense if you understand what ʺModernismʺ refers to. In this case, ʺModernismʺ usually refers to Neo-Classical, Enlightenment assumptions concerning the role reason, or rationality, or scientific reasoning, play in guiding our understanding of the human condition and, in extreme cases of Postmodern theory, nature itself. Postmodernism basically challenges those basic assumptions. Modernism (or Enlightenment Postmodernism Humanism) Reason and science provide accurate, Reason and science are Ideologies in the objective, reliable foundation of Nie-schean or Marxist sense: simp y “knowledge” myths created by man. Reason transcends and exists There is no universal, objective means of independent y of our existentia , judging any given concept as “true”; A11 historical, cu tura contexts; it is universa judgments of truth exist within a cu tura and “true,. context 2cu tura re ativism3. Reason and human The app ication of pure Reason independence4freedom are inherent y 2predicated Cartesian Radical Skepticism3 inked; just laws conform to the dictates disproves the universa nature of a priori of Reason. We hold these truths to be self human freedom. Independence46reedom evident… are Western Ideo ogies 2just like reason and science3 used to co oni8e foreign cu tures (ie 9e gian Congo, Viet Nam, Iraq, Afghanistan3 or subjugate women. 9ecause it is universal, Reason can he p Nope. Science is no more universal than is us overcome all con<icts. any other cu ture’s de&nition of “truth”. Science is the paradigm of a true Nope. know edge. 1anguage is transparent; a one to one 1anguage is fluid and arbitrary and4or re ationship between signi&er (word3 and rooted in Power4Know edge re ations. signi&ed (thing or concept3. Meaning is fluid and arbitrary. Meaning is “messy,. Reason wi lead to universa truths al +…no eternal truths, no universal human cu tures wi embrace. experience, no universal human rights, overriding narrative of human progress, 26aig ey, 83. 1 of 2 2/7/2018, 5:23 PM Modernism vs Postmodernism https://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/engl_258/Lecture Notes/modernism_... In sum: Truth exists independent of In sum: Truth may exist independent of human consciousness and can be known human consciousness but there is no thru the app ication of Reason. objective means of nai ing it down. 0 En ightenment conc usions ead from 0 Postmodern conc usions lead from this assumption. this assumption. Connotations. The app ication of Reason Connotations: There is no objective eads to a progressive movement toward means upon which to predicate morality civi ization, democracy, freedom, and right4just governance. scienti&c advancement. Postmodern theory is descriptive of the The En ightenment is prescriptive : a human condition; it describes an impasse means of bui ding a be@er society. in phi osophy and social re ations. Modernist Feminism: Women are Postmodern 6eminism: The categories oppressed by patriarchy and can use male4female, mascu ine4feminine are Reason to achieve both independence and themse ves cu tural y constructed and4or regain their “authentic se ves,. Ideo ogy. Gender ro es are cu tural y re ative in all cu tures and contexts. Existence of stab e, coherent “se f,, The “se f” is a myth and large y a independent of cu ture and society. composite of one’s social experiences and cu tural contexts. The ʺse f is an Ideo ogy. Source: Borrowed heavi y from Bane F ax , via Lester Faig eyCs Fragments Of Rationality 2 of 2 2/7/2018, 5:23 PM.