Post-Modernism

The term postmodernism is often used in meaning the entire trend of thought in the late 20th century, and the social and philosophical realities of that period. Writers such as John Ralston Saul among others have argued that postmodernism represents an accumulated disillusionment with the promises of the Enlightenment project and its progress of science, so central to modern thinking. The existentialists like Nietzsche brought a new nihilism and atheism which influenced culture. Post-colonialism after WW2 contributed to the idea that one cannot have an objectively superior lifestyle or belief. This idea was taken further by the anti-foundationalist philosophers: Heidegger, then Ludwig Wittgenstein, then Derrida, who re-examined the fundamentals of knowledge. They argue that rationality was neither as sure nor as clear as modernists or rationalists assert. Even logic could be biased -- "logocentrism" - the priveledging of a system of logic. Psychologists have since gone further in asserting a cognitive bias, which points at a human bias of truth. Søren Kierkegaard and Karl Barth's important fideist approach to theology and lifestyle, brought an irreverence to reason, and the rise of subjectivity. Features of postmodern culture begin to arise in the 1920s with the emergence of the Dada movement. Both World Wars (perhaps even the concept of a World War), contributed to postmodernism; it is with the end of the Second World War that recognizably post-modernist attitudes begin to emerge. Some identify the burgeoning anti-establishment movements of the 1960s as an early trend toward postmodernism. The book "Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature"(1979) by Richard Rorty is a famous postmodern text; its title could also serve as the defining element of postmodernism - that we cannot make sense of the mind mirroring anything outside the mind accurately. Marxist critics argue that postmodernism is symptomatic of "late capitalism" and the decline of institutions, particularly the nation-state. Other thinkers assert that post-modernity is the natural reaction to mass broadcasting and a society conditioned to mass production and mass politics. The movement has had diverse political ramifications: its anti-ideological ideas appear conducive to, and strongly associated with, the feminist movement, racial equality movements, gay rights movements, most forms of late 20th century anarchism, even the peace movement and various hybrids of these in the current anti-globalization movement. Unsurprisingly, none of these institutions entirely embraces all aspects of the postmodern movement in its most concentrated definition, but reflect, or in true postmodern style, borrow from some of its core ideas. The most interesting idea behind these movements is that the "old" way of thinking is wrong because it didn't project their understanding of "truth." Therefore redefining "truth" is required which is the oposite if true postmodernism. This idea, that mutually exclusive truths can co-exist simultaneously is a hallmark of postmodernism. Though it did not start out with this attitude, it has developed within the mindest of those who would rather deny what they dissagree with than pursue the truth, which they claim is either not really there or defferent from you to me. This quote from a young person praises this idea. "I get my strength from myself. I don't have any idols. I don't believe you should look to other people to find out how to better yourself. I'm all about introspection and being yourself." Your truth is in you and you should not look for truth anywhere else.