RESEARCH : Post modernist theory

The following is a partial summary of P.R Singh's Post modern theory


Postmodernism’s essentials are the opposite of modernisms. Instead of
natural reality—anti-realism. Instead of experience and reason—linguistic social
subjectivism. Instead of individual identity and autonomy—various race, sex,
and class group-isms. Instead of human interests as fundamentally harmonious
and tending toward mutually-beneficial interaction conflict and oppression.
Instead of valuing individualism in values, markets, and politics calls for
communalism, solidarity, and egalitarian restraints. Instead of prizing the
achievements of science and technology—suspicion tending toward outright
host

David Dockery explains: Postmodernists would critique Christianity by claiming that Christians think they have the only truth. The claims of Christianity are rejected because of the appeal to absolute
truth. Absolute truth claims will be dismissed by
the postmodernist for being “intolerant” –trying to force one’s beliefs
onto other people.

Perhaps the most identifying mark of postmodernism is its flat denial of
the possibility of truth. With its roots in existentialism, postmodernism
maintains that truth is created by a social group for its own purposes and then
forced on others in order to manipulate and suppress them. Postmodernism’s
main objective, therefore, is to “deconstruct” this build up of language and
society (i.e. “culture”) and liberate the oppressed from the oppressor.

“How can you say absolutely that there is no absolute truth?” Postmodernists
do not care about the apparent contradiction. The oppressive attitude has been
disabled and that is all that matters. A typical statement by a “Repressed
Memory Therapist” reveals this agenda, “I don’t care if it’s true. What actually
happened is irrelevant to me.”

Postmodernists do not attempt to refine their thoughts about what is
right or wrong, true or false, good or evil. They believe that there isn’t such a
thing as absolute truth. A postmodernist views the world outside of themselves
as being in error, that is, other people’s truth becomes indistinguishable from
error. Therefore, no one has the authority to define truth or impose upon others
his idea of moral right and wrong.
Their self-rationalization of the universe and world around them pits
themselves against divine revelation versus moral relativism.

Metaphysically, postmodernism is anti-realist, holding that it is impossible to
speak meaningfully about an independently existing reality. Postmodernism
substitutes instead a social-linguistic, constructionist account of reality.

If there are no absolutes, if truth is relative, then there can be no stability, no
meaning in life. Modernism proclaimed the death of God, postmodernism proclaims
the death of self.  If reality is socially constructed, then moral guidelines are only
masks for oppressive power and individual identity is an illusion.
Gene Veith comments, “For all its talk about culture, postmodernism lacks culture
since the traditions, beliefs and morals that define culture are all disabled.”