Postmodernism

Postmodernism

reaction to the evils of modernism that sees truth claims as political power plays rather than as statement of intrinsic reality. Is not objective, neutral, universal.

What is truth

 collection of artifacts, a social construct, ultimate knowledge is inaccessible

Modernism

A strong belief in human reason, empiricism, science and technological progress as well as skepticism towards religion

correspondence theory of truth

a belief is true if there exists an appropriate entity – a fact – to which it corresponds

Pragmatism

**We use experiences to generate a theory about living.** 

seven assumptions

1. Universal truth cant be known 2. Reason is subjective 3. Objective knowledge is a myth 4. Objective truth is to complex 5. There is no God 6. Societies are biased (experiences) 7. no one is neutral

Gorgias

practices constructing persuasive arguments, regardless of whether or not they were true, nihilist

**Friedrich Nietzsche**

father of postmodernism, resurrected sophism

structuralism

human knowledge is a product of language forms or grammar

deconstruction

The method of literary analysis that seeks to expose the underlying ideologies of a text

poststructuralism

human communication is about the motivations behind communicating

Metanarrative

An overarching account or interpretation of events and circumstances that provides a pattern or structure for people’s beliefs and gives meaning to their experiences

Humanity

Humans are nothing more than ever-evolving, highly sexual, social animals.

Do post modernists and christians agree on anything?

culture plays a role in shaping things, experiences contribute to who we are, language can be used to manipulate people

PM and marxism

PM started as marxists but saw that millions died to communism and now reject anything that claims ultimate truth

nihilism

is the belief that the world and human existence are without meaning, truth, or purpose

sophism

**taught the art of rhetoric (debate) and held skeptical views of truth**