Postmodernism and Its Impact, Explained.

Helen Pluckrose outlines some of the arguments later explored in depth in her bestselling 2020 book, Cynical Theories (co-authored with James Lindsay). The essay charts the pernicious influence of postmodernist thinking on two generations of academics and activists. If you want to understand how we got to a place where microaggressions are denounced as violence but the brutal terrorism of an intifada is considered righteous, this is an important primer.

[00:00] Introduction to Postmodernism

[00:14] Cultural Power of Postmodernism

[00:27] Roots and Origins of Postmodernism

[01:08] Art and Philosophy Influences

[01:23] Rejection of Modernist Ideas

[01:51] Critique of Science and Objectivity

[02:04] Nihilism and Revolutionary Ethos

[02:32] Debate on Modernity vs. Post-Modernity

[03:55] Jean-François Lyotard and Meta-Narratives

[06:00] Michel Foucault's Archaeology of Knowledge

[07:36] Judith Butler and Queer Theory

[08:58] Jacques Derrida and Deconstruction

[09:54] Relativism and Identity Politics

[10:48] Impact on Social Sciences and Humanities

[14:32] Postmodernism in the Academy

[20:06] Postmodernism Beyond the Academy

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[THFLCNx]

"A writer who says that there are no truths, or that all truth is 'merely relative', is asking you not to believe him. So don't."
- Roger Scruton

[ReclusiveAsta]

French: "Let's erode everything until there's nothing left"
Everyone: "Wow so smart"

[randomtanjnt]

Post-modernism is basically a way to intellectually rationalize narcissism and the pursuit of power for one's self at all cost.

[Itriedtobe-wqlj]

I live in Cambodia. It's recovering from the effects of post-modernists called the Khmer Rouge whose leaders educated in France in the mid 20th century.

[AlmostEthical]

Also note that Foucault was thought to be paedophile who tried to justify his desire for boys with valueless philosophy. Derrida and Lyotard seemingly did not judge this as wicked. Postmodernism was useful to point out the limitations of modernism, but it lacks the depth to be a philosophy in its own right. Modernism should always be the basis of reasonable and rational thought and policy, while its limitations are ideally understood.

[sergioreyes]

Postmodernism: basically, mental masturbation until the brain turns to goo.

[leloupdessteppes]

As a Frenchman, I feel tremendous sadness and pain that my country has such a deep part in the degeneration and ultimate destruction of Western civilization. Post-World War II French philosophy is, for the most part, truly horrific and nihilistic. They have done everything in their power to deprecate their country's heritage and achievements.

[friendlyfire]

For a complex topic, I'd suggest no background music. I found it distracting.

[Citizen_J]

Let's not leave the Germans blameless here. Frankfurt school is at the heart of this

[davidantonsavage]

An A+ for content, an F minus for the manic music loop that resented (in a postmodern kind of way) being labeled as "background"

[cdv]

I'm french and I absolutely DESPISE these people.

[My_King_KM]

Alternative title: The Western History of Covert Demoralisation

[citizeng]

When I studied Postmodernism in school, my assessment was that it signalled the exhaustion of Western creativity.

[perfectblue]

I believe that the spectacle we were served during the ouverture of the Paris Olympics has a lot to do with Postmodermodism.

[mxvega]

I surfed some of the post-modernist theoretical waves in the early 90s, and once I'd finished my masters thesis got a rather more realist job and mostly forgot about it, not sure whether the main point of post-modernism was marketing, academic purge, or prank. Lyotard is a good read, as a descriptor. Spivak is more evidently retributive. Baudrillard is delirious.
The big change happened when pomo hit American politics and social mobilization. What a wonderful way to counter Fukuyama and the neoliberal triumphalists, to breathe new vitriol into stale partisan debates, get a job, a book deal, and a talkshow spot!
The problem, seems to me, is not the weird, the extreme, the intersectional, partisan and nihilist. They are not new. The problem is that the center has been so damned weak, vacillating, wanting to triangulate and not be associated with the wrong kind of right and maintain the moderate left while losing the core liberal values that should define the center: fundamental freedoms, open society.
I suspect liberal centrists could do a better job of marketing Locke, Smith, Burke, Popper, Olsen, even Hayek. The appetite is there - I look at the recent general election in New Zealand and see around 30% swing vote to the center right, putting a coalition in office at about 64%. That's huge for a proportional rep system. I'm watching Canada and Aus closely too. Many voters are sick of the screaming and yelling, being told they're bad and ghastly because of things they cannot change, being punished for past tolerances, and none of this has paid off, given the state of the job market, cost of living, and interest rates.

[gunbutter]

This adds credence to the saying "if you wonder what the right decision is just look at what the French are doing then do the exact opposite"

[Primitarian]

If postmodernism is serious about rejecting the notion of overarching truth, then it must reject itself as overarching truth. QED.

[willleahy]

If a small group of French writers can undermine an entire culture, then that culture was a rotten door waiting to be kicked in.

[briteness]

I read Foucault for a college class back in the mid-80s. It has been a long time, but I remember thinking that his views were deeply corrosive and also somewhat dishonest. I also remember that none of the other students, as far as I could tell, and not even the professor seemed to notice how problematic and dark his philosophy was. I became a Catholic a year later. Thank God. I would not say that my conversion was entirely just a response to engaging with Foucault’s thought, but it played a part.

[danielnassimia]

not sure why when explaining the 'Far Right' it pictures the current Italian Government. Not all Right parties are Far Right.