From a philosophical standpoint postmodernism is pure idealism. Because in the minds of postmodernists material reality is only a "social construct" which actually means a construct through language, "discourse". Material reality may or may not exist we will never know because all we have is language they argue. Post-structuralism develo…
From a philosophical standpoint postmodernism is pure idealism. Because in the minds of postmodernists material reality is only a "social construct" which actually means a construct through language, "discourse". Material reality may or may not exist we will never know because all we have is language they argue. Post-structuralism developed out of linguistics. And naturally many linguists are tempted to pretend that everything is language as it makes their profession look much more relevant than it really is. Thus empiricism is discounted and thrown out of the window. While the "original postmodernist" were radically critical (which basically means they didn't even believe their own sh*t) the new postmodernists are absolutely certain that the enlightenment got everything wrong and is downright "evil". Social marginalization must always be condemned and is without fault a sign of "oppression" which leads directly to the madness that we see today – many "social justice warriors"
seriously believe it's wrong to ostracize even the most horrendous and devious sexual behavior and even if it involves children and instead society should normalize it and punish those who do not partake in it. It's the world as we know it "inverted". Suddenly "drag" in front of children becomes "a human right". The 21st century has truly lost its head.
If postmodernism is true, then reality really is created by our words, so using the wrong words is violently disruptive of reality. Hence "offensive words = violence". If words create reality, then refusing to use someone's made-up pronouns really is "denying their existence". If words create reality, then crowds of people screaming "trans women are women" over and over aren't engaged in a political protest at all -- they're literally saving the world from destruction.
I hadn't actually considered that last point until I just wrote it, and I think it might be important to explaining the level of vigor and violence that the Left has around this issue. They honestly believe they're saving the world by preventing dissident voices from being heard. It's not political; it's metaphysical.
From a philosophical standpoint postmodernism is pure idealism. Because in the minds of postmodernists material reality is only a "social construct" which actually means a construct through language, "discourse". Material reality may or may not exist we will never know because all we have is language they argue. Post-structuralism developed out of linguistics. And naturally many linguists are tempted to pretend that everything is language as it makes their profession look much more relevant than it really is. Thus empiricism is discounted and thrown out of the window. While the "original postmodernist" were radically critical (which basically means they didn't even believe their own sh*t) the new postmodernists are absolutely certain that the enlightenment got everything wrong and is downright "evil". Social marginalization must always be condemned and is without fault a sign of "oppression" which leads directly to the madness that we see today – many "social justice warriors"
seriously believe it's wrong to ostracize even the most horrendous and devious sexual behavior and even if it involves children and instead society should normalize it and punish those who do not partake in it. It's the world as we know it "inverted". Suddenly "drag" in front of children becomes "a human right". The 21st century has truly lost its head.
"Suddenly 'drag' in front of children becomes 'a human right.'"
A shocking and disgraceful inversion of the classical notion of natural rights.
"There is no meta-narrative EXCEPT OUR META-NARRATIVE" being crammed down all our throats.
If postmodernism is true, then reality really is created by our words, so using the wrong words is violently disruptive of reality. Hence "offensive words = violence". If words create reality, then refusing to use someone's made-up pronouns really is "denying their existence". If words create reality, then crowds of people screaming "trans women are women" over and over aren't engaged in a political protest at all -- they're literally saving the world from destruction.
I hadn't actually considered that last point until I just wrote it, and I think it might be important to explaining the level of vigor and violence that the Left has around this issue. They honestly believe they're saving the world by preventing dissident voices from being heard. It's not political; it's metaphysical.