What is Metamodernism?

Metamodernism might be the most important idea you come this year. According to Hanzi Freinacht, the pioneer of political metamodernism, metamodernism is a new cultural phase that transcends and includes (to use Ken Wilber’s Integral Philosophy language) the previous phase of Postmodernism (which is turn transcended and included the previous phase of Modernity).
Hanzi Freinacht is one of a number of pioneering Metamodernist thinkers as well as the Dutch art scholars Robin van den Akker and Timotheus Vermeulen who first sparked the Metamodern phenomenon with their 2010 paper Notes on Metamodernism.
In this episode we are going to look at the characteristics of this new Metamodern cultural trend. its relationship to the previous trends of Modernity and Postmodernity and why, in this world in crisis, we need Metamodernism.
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Further Reading:
• The Listening Society by Hanzi Freinacht
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⭐ Support the channel (thank you!)
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Media Used:
1. 1812 Overture, — Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
2. Lost Frontier — Kevin MacLeod
3. Juniper — Kevin MacLeod
4. Mesmerize — Kevin MacLeod
5. There’s Probably No Time — Chris Zabriskie
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⌛ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:11 The Metamodern Synthesis
05:50 What is Metamodernism?
07:34 Ironic Sincerity: the Tone of Metamodernism
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#philosophy #thelivingphilosophy #metamodernism #metamodernity #metamodern #metamoderna

[TheLivingPhilosophy]

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⌛ Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
03:11 The Metamodern Synthesis
05:50 What is Metamodernism?
07:34 Ironic Sincerity: the Tone of Metamodernism

[kimstacks]

I feel like summarizing this metamodernism as

- sincerity that doesn't deny difficulties
- grand narratives that don't deny edge cases and nuances
- cautious optimism without descending into either pollyannaish naivete or depressing nihilism/cynicism

What does everyone else think?

[albertoperezvadillo]

Alright, after all this time, it turns out that I've been a metamodernist for years without knowing it. This channel is worth every minute of one's time!

[Postlong]

This reminds me of when I was a college student just diving into the world of philosophy wanting desperately to solve the conundrum of Modernism Vs Postmodernism. I want to synthesize some sort of new, unifying world view that would give new grand meaning to the world and positive direction to the trajectory of history. I called it “Neomodernism” and I used a venn diagram with three categories (‘objective’, ‘subjective’ and ‘meta’) to try to forge a unifying narrative. I ended up just making my own flavor of postmodernism with a "mystical positivity" heavily influenced by Soren Kierkegaard, Immanual Levinas and Quakerism. Anyone seriously trying to step beyond Postmodernism is going to have to answer to Heidegger. I do not see that addressed in "Metamodernism” so far. Every philosopher since has been a footnote to the Postmodern OG as far as I can tell. I apologize for being cynical (hahaha) but this appears to me to be more of an aesthetic project than a serious philosophical venture. BUT I would love to be proven wrong! I will keep watch and love the content.

[halguy]

I've been notocing this trend too, but I'd rather describe it as unapologetic sincerity. its definitely more freeing in terms of self expression than hiding under 10 layers of irony, which was the staple of growing up in the 2000-10's

[kevinsherman]

Truly warm and insightful work as always. I can hardly express my appreciation enough!!!

What I'm hearing: Metamodernism seems to be a natural and essential bridge that accepts that it is constantly being built. Much like the philosophy of Daisaku Ikeda and Nichiren Daishonin, and very much in alignment with David Eagleman's work "The Runaway Species". The structure and optimism of Modernism has value as does the perspective and skepticism of Postmodernism. Structures are good if they allow for flexibility and accepts that we will be in a constant process of seeking. Ikeda often speaks of this when discussing how great good emerges from great challenges. Like Eagleman, we accept that there isn't a universal beauty or truth, but a constant process of adding on (80% familiarity, 20% novelty).

I'm so encouraged and eager to see what comes next!

[pinetree]

I love this channel and thanks for posting this. This video kept popping up as a suggested video and I am glad I clicked on it. Not only is Metamodernism the most important idea you will encounter this year it may be the most hopeful idea since 1968. I used this video in two of my discussion groups and realized I had already used one of your other videos on the four quadrants in previous discussion groups. Our discussion group came to the realization that many individuals have been living in this metamodern mind space sometimes for years but it needed a name to become impactful and consequential on the social level. I see it as an emerging and converging new narrative. I have a little saying playing off the family therapy aphorism, The child doesn't need perfect mothering what they really need is good enough mothering - maybe Donald Winnicott. Culture no longer needs the one perfect grand narrative but what we really do need is good enough narrative. I would like to throw my weight and energy in support of this developing narrative, with a special emphasis on this question, "What are the educational and psychological forms and processes and curriculum that can culture or nurture or give birth to the metamodern mental space in individuals and in the larger social culture." I bet small group discussions and dialogue around content like this would be a great start.

[morganbuenger]

Excellent summation of transitions between the principles of modernity, postmodernism and the new metamodernism. In philosophical terms we are looking at a Hegelian Thesis (Modernism), Anti-Thesis (Postmodernism) and Synthesis (Metamodernism). As much as I welcome the idea of an end to postmodernism, I get the feeling metamodernism is not going to be a long-lived era just like its predecessor postmodernism. Postmodernism cannot exist without modernism because it is merely a critique of modernism, it is not a self-sustaining, viable new era. As modernism is being rejected and approaching and end, so will its critique which is postmodernism. Modernism is still very much around us and alive in science, engineering, architecture and technology. We are living and will be living in a very modern physical world or house if you will for a while. What the pre-modern age and the modern age had in common was the belief in a singular truth which needed to be pursued. In pre-modernity it was the truth of a monotheistic God which then turned into the rational truth of science in modernity which did not permit what it considered error. Postmodernism with its multiplicity of perspectives now arrived at nearly infinite individual truths which are too many to practically form and build a new era with. The two cannot be easily synthesized because multiple juxtae opposed truths cannot be rationalized and reduced into an elegant energy pattern. I embrace metamodernism as a departure from postmodern disharmony. But I see a reemergence of spiritual truth, integrated with intelligent, life affirming technologies, promoting positive outcomes for all, as being the next great era. It has already begun but is broadly not recognized by the secular rationale of existing modernism and the self-preoccupation of postmodernism. Both are being manipulated by political powers aiming to keep old paradigms of control in place.

[g-manvic]

I like that you don't dumb down things to a point where they lose substance. That picture of Liberté guidant le Peuple for example is very fitting, and you trust that it will be understood and have an impact on those that will catch it. Your choice of pictures in general allow for those who have followed a different path than yours to attach whatever their knowledge and experiences are to what you speak of. Maybe it would be good to cite the pictures in the description for those who would want to look further into the artist, person or body of work it belongs with.

Either way I am recommending you to everyone I know. Stay down to earth, but never stop what you've been doing. You make great food for thought, without a doubt.

[BlakeFitzgerald]

This was fascinating. I remember about 16 years ago at university we did a lecture on the move away from post modernism to an age of super complexity. Sadly I cannot tell what the specific reader for this was...

[pouya]

Fantastic video. You explained modernity and post-modernity in ways I could never hope to. You're video brought together many thoughts I've had with empirical information to appreciate. Thank you for this, you've opened my eyes for the better.

[sezan]

For a long period I was thinking what could be subsequent revolution to our cultural movement, is it here yet? or is it going to a few decades more? Turns out the revolution has already started in the 2010s.. I am so happy that I found this channel. I have just found out Metamodernism through this video and I shall keep learning about it. Thank you so much for making this. God Bless you.

[bluejules]

This ironic sincerity of metamodernism reminded me of my reading of Carlos Casteneda's books back in the 1990s. Although laden with whacky ideas, there were wonderful gems of wisdom. To quote, "But we must know first that our acts are useless, and yet we must proceed as if we didn't know it. That's a sorcerer's controlled folly."

[winstonbarquez]

The metamodern mien of the narrator speaks volumes of what the synthesis of the order and disorder of this philosophy is all about.

[-wk]

Irony doesn't bring trust. Honesty brings trust.

[antoniusnies-komponistpian]

Modernism: Crowds following their favourite smart individual
Postmodernism: egalitarian collectives deciding things democratically
Metamodernism: Individuals finding their autonomous way, focussing on their long-term-interests while seeing others as individuals as well.

I think what characterizes metamodernism is the new kind of individualism, that defeats modernism as pseudo-individualistic. It emancipates from show and extravagant self-expression into practical use of the mind's capacities for what seems to matter after personal deduction, not by tribe logic. Metamodernism steps right into the complexity of grey areas, ready to be everyone's hate object for not taking a collective side.

[SpinSurgery]

Around a decade ago I realized the only way I could endure this life with at least a socially acceptable type of insanity and any true joy to compliment the agony which nihilism had endowed upon my soul, as well as sustain another attempt at a relationship I can approach whole heartedly and even optimistically despite my many doubts, I realized I needed to stop being so half assed about life. I needed to take things seriously and be an adult. I decided that I could only do this, not by “trying hard”, and not by “screwing around” and pretending I don’t care to cope with failures, but instead I needed to approach life with an absolute and dead serious playfulness. my expectations had to change from total success or total failure to being fixed in the un-fixedness and sense of delight at the thought of the mythic yet realistic possibilities of my unknown but possibly predetermined, fated future and legacy. I can love my little play I call my life. It’s already been tragic, exciting, sweet, bitter, boring, and exhilarating…so I stopped fearing some one dimensional idea of what my existence amounts to and embraced the multifaceted truths, subjective and objective. I even realized I was simultaneously both an atheist and a devout believer, not an agnostic. I both knew God personally yet knew God didn’t exist. This all seemed to occur to me around the same time and that was when I started describing my life worldview as a commitment to living in a state of stable oscillation within all poles of a metaxy. Omnimodernism, complex integral systems….no label seemed to fit, which worked since that wouldn’t suit my new approach to my life, but a few years later I read the metamodern manifesto and click…my paradigm shift wasn’t just mine, it was the developing perspective among others in the war against nihilism and or lying to ourselves. And it’s the coming global zeitgeist, if not already here!

[aster]

This video has been exceptionally insightful and has greatly enhanced my understanding of a subject i was finding hard to grasp. I sincerely wish there were more YouTube channels that offered such high-quality and comprehensive content.

[jeff-onedayatatime.]

Just wanted to mention it was Prof. Harari's concept of "intersubjective reality" that helped me grasp Metamodernism. For instance, there is now no condemnation of others who live inside their own, more primitive, intersubjective realities.

[Reedemedknight]

I truly hope empathy becomes the fuel for this paradigm.