Postmodernism

irishguitarlad · 17-01-2019 4:39pm #1

So I have an exam on Monday about Feminist Literature. Now the things is I would consider myself a feminist yet I have severe doubt about the theory on which the majority of their theory is based on ie.Postmodernism. Now Postmodernism itself got it's idea from the father of linguistics Ferdinand de Sausurre who's theory on language has since been debunked by Chomsky. Also it goes against one of the fathers of modern science and modern philosophy, Renee Descartes who said " I think therefore I am" ths comfirming it as an absolute truth and beginning from there to establish other truths. However, postmodernist theorists believe that there are no absolute truths. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking as it goes against science who's practice is to search for the absolute truth of something, find it and use it to make our lives better and the lives of further generations.

Anyways, am I wrong AH? Should I not question it at all?Also, is this postmodernist theory only accepted as "fact" in literature courses or is it like that in philosophy and psychology ones as well? I have to say, it's in other modules as well in my literature course.By the way I am not some crazy Jordan Peterson fanboy, I do however like some of his psychology.

Mr. Incognito · 17-01-2019 4:47pm

Its all theory.

There is no such thing as fact.

Certainly not in literature

sk8erboii · 17-01-2019 4:48pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

So I have an exam on Monday about Feminist Literature. Now the things is I would consider myself a feminist yet I have severe doubt about the theory on which the majority of their theory is based on ie.Postmodernism. Now Postmodernism itself got it's idea from the father of linguistics Ferdinand de Sausurre who's theory on language has since been debunked by Chomsky. Also it goes against one of the fathers of modern science and modern philosophy, Renee Descartes who said " I think therefore I am" ths comfirming it as an absolute truth and beginning from there to establish other truths. However, postmodernist theorists believe that there are no absolute truths. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking as it goes against science who's practice is to search for the absolute truth of something, find it and use it to make our lives better and the lives of further generations.

Anyways, am I wrong AH? Should I not question it at all?Also, is this postmodernist theory only accepted as "fact" in literature courses or is it like that in philosophy and psychology ones as well? I have to say, it's in other modules as well in my literature course.By the way I am not some crazy Jordan Peterson fanboy, I do however like some of his psychology.

Lol youre not getting it. PM challenges truths, not that nothing is ‘true’ Ever heard of the flying spaghetti monster? Its an satirical PM movement mocking religion. PM gestated as a response to modernist thought relapsing to pre-modernist thought. (E.g ‘Someone told me the earth is round even though i have not done any critical thinking or experiment to prove that theory, i will believe this governmenf/person/religion). As we all know solipsist thought is much more dangerous. Some farmer saw his cow die when the lady next door walk past. Therefore she is a witch. Therefore lets burn her at the stake.

In the early modern era sailors circumnavigated the world to prove that it is round. Today, the vast majority of people have not done so, or proven that it is, yet accept the fact. Flat earth movement is a post modernist movemenf, thats unfortunately attracted some really stupid people.

Its not that nothing is true, its that you should question everything.

But theres a real scientific argument for PM In the form of metaphysics. When you get down to quarks and photons really nothing becomes certain and mathematics makes no sense

Roger Hassenforder · 17-01-2019 4:48pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

So I have an exam on Monday about Feminist Literature. Now the things is I would consider myself a feminist yet I have severe doubt about the theory on which the majority of their theory is based on ie.Postmodernism. Now Postmodernism itself got it's idea from the father of linguistics Ferdinand de Sausurre who's theory on language has since been debunked by Chomsky. Also it goes against one of the fathers of modern science and modern philosophy, Renee Descartes who said " I think therefore I am" ths comfirming it as an absolute truth and beginning from there to establish other truths. However, postmodernist theorists believe that there are no absolute truths. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking as it goes against science who's practice is to search for the absolute truth of something, find it and use it to make our lives better and the lives of further generations.

Anyways, am I wrong AH? Should I not question it at all?Also, is this postmodernist theory only accepted as "fact" in literature courses or is it like that in philosophy and psychology ones as well? I have to say, it's in other modules as well in my literature course.By the way I am not some crazy Jordan Peterson fanboy, I do however like some of his psychology.

Could you not have done engineering?

biko · 17-01-2019 4:49pm

Say this in class - "Feminist Literature = Chick Lit"

Renegade Mechanic · 17-01-2019 4:50pm

Third level educayshun needs an almighty kick in the teeth tbh.

irishguitarlad · 17-01-2019 4:50pm

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

Could you not have done engineering?

Yeah probably should have.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 17-01-2019 4:51pm

An ice cap splits into two, with a pink polar bear sitting on one floe, and an Eskimo midget on the other. The polar bear asks, "does your cheese have soap?", to which the midget replies, "No radio!"

irishguitarlad · 17-01-2019 4:51pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Its all theory.

There is no such thing as fact.

Certainly not in literature

Yes I agree, but people believe this as fact on the course's whatsapp group.

sk8erboii · 17-01-2019 4:52pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

Yes I agree, but people believe this as fact on the course's whatsapp group.

There are idiots everywhere unfortunately. Accepting post modernism as the truth is antithesis to its meaning

Roger Hassenforder · 17-01-2019 4:55pm

What are the job prospects like on this course, and how many of ye are there?

Chips Lovell · 17-01-2019 4:56pm

All I can say is that you've definitely come to the right place for advice.

irishguitarlad · 17-01-2019 4:57pm

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

What are the job prospects like on this course, and how many of ye are there?

To be honest Roger I'm only doing it to get a degree as I live in a foreign country and it was the only one that was in English. You need a degree to do majority of things these days, sadly.

Roger Hassenforder · 17-01-2019 5:00pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

To be honest Roger I'm only doing it to get a degree as I live in a foreign country and it was the only one that was in English. You need a degree to do majority of things these days, sadly.

Sounds like a french college!
I wish i was a carpenter or electrician sometimes.

johnnyskeleton · 17-01-2019 5:08pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

So I have an exam on Monday about Feminist Literature. Now the things is I would consider myself a feminist yet I have severe doubt about the theory on which the majority of their theory is based on ie.Postmodernism. Now Postmodernism itself got it's idea from the father of linguistics Ferdinand de Sausurre who's theory on language has since been debunked by Chomsky.

Well exams are designed to see how well you can absorb and repeat the stuff you've been given during term. If you want to be intellectually honest and say that everything you've been taught in the term is garbage and spend 3 hours talking about something else that would be a brave move, and maybe your lecturer will admire it.

However, if you want to pass the course, you are better off mindlessly regurgitating what you have been told to say.

That said, if its just on feminist literature, why not pick a non postmodernist feminist like Simone de Beauvoir or, more contemporaneously, Camille Paglia.

Also it goes against one of the fathers of modern science and modern philosophy, Renee Descartes who said " I think therefore I am" ths comfirming it as an absolute truth and beginning from there to establish other truths.

I wouldn't agree that he is one of the fathers of modern science and philosophy. He was very influential, but his premise of innate truth being capable of ascertained relies upon a belief in God, which isn't universally accepted.

However, postmodernist theorists believe that there are no absolute truths. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking as it goes against science who's practice is to search for the absolute truth of something, find it and use it to make our lives better and the lives of further generations.

I don't think absolute truth is a scientific term. Scientists look for provable theories and they test hypotheses.

Anyways, am I wrong AH? Should I not question it at all?Also, is this postmodernist theory only accepted as "fact" in literature courses or is it like that in philosophy and psychology ones as well? I have to say, it's in other modules as well in my literature course.By the way I am not some crazy Jordan Peterson fanboy, I do however like some of his psychology.

It's entirely in keeping with postmodernism to question postmodernism so I'd say by all means plough ahead. I wouldn't mention Jordan Peterson in a Feminist Literature exam though.

BeerWolf · 17-01-2019 5:09pm

Roger Hassenforder wrote: »

What are the job prospects like on this course, and how many of ye are there?

There's no shortage in joining protests over any little thing be in person or over a b/v-log.

super_furry · 17-01-2019 5:11pm

Still can't believe that Sting was the Ace Face and the Bellboy myself.

Grayson · 17-01-2019 5:20pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

So I have an exam on Monday about Feminist Literature. Now the things is I would consider myself a feminist yet I have severe doubt about the theory on which the majority of their theory is based on ie.Postmodernism. Now Postmodernism itself got it's idea from the father of linguistics Ferdinand de Sausurre who's theory on language has since been debunked by Chomsky. Also it goes against one of the fathers of modern science and modern philosophy, Renee Descartes who said " I think therefore I am" ths comfirming it as an absolute truth and beginning from there to establish other truths. However, postmodernist theorists believe that there are no absolute truths. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking as it goes against science who's practice is to search for the absolute truth of something, find it and use it to make our lives better and the lives of further generations.

Anyways, am I wrong AH? Should I not question it at all?Also, is this postmodernist theory only accepted as "fact" in literature courses or is it like that in philosophy and psychology ones as well? I have to say, it's in other modules as well in my literature course.By the way I am not some crazy Jordan Peterson fanboy, I do however like some of his psychology.

Actually no. Descartes ideas have been disproved many times. The reason he's studied is because he's an amazing step between early western philosophy and now. And even though his arguments are wrong, they are still lovely arguments that have a certain beauty to them.

And if you want to be really pedantic a persian, Avicenna, got there first.

btw, in philosophy, nothing is considered as fact. Anyone who brings in a priori knowledge or states something without proving it is just considered wrong.

Edit: except for his maths of course. Cartesian planes are of course incredibly useful

Pherekydes · 17-01-2019 5:40pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

There is no such thing as fact.

Is that a fact?

Roger Hassenforder · 17-01-2019 6:10pm

Keatsian wrote: »

If you actually have an exam on Monday, get off Boards and start studying, because it doesn't sound like you have a firm grasp of this topic, or how to use capital letters and punctuation (which I wouldn't normally comment on, but you will also be marked on it in an English exam!) A thread called "Postmodernism" will just be a magnet for a bunch of Peterson/Dawkins fans who won't have a clue what they are on about.

You'd have failed punctuation there bud!
Smartarse.

#andaDawkinsfan

mariaalice · 17-01-2019 6:18pm

You will be grand here on AH its full of people who if they think/believe it, it must be true no evidence required.

Roger Hassenforder · 17-01-2019 6:54pm

Keatsian wrote: »

Enlighten me.

Keatsian wrote: »

....a bunch of Peterson/Dawkins fans who won't have a clue what they are on about.

Tho...

Capt'n Midnight · 18-01-2019 1:11am

https://xkcd.com/451/

realitykeeper · 14-10-2019 8:22pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

So I have an exam on Monday about Feminist Literature. Now the things is I would consider myself a feminist yet I have severe doubt about the theory on which the majority of their theory is based on ie.Postmodernism. Now Postmodernism itself got it's idea from the father of linguistics Ferdinand de Sausurre who's theory on language has since been debunked by Chomsky. Also it goes against one of the fathers of modern science and modern philosophy, Renee Descartes who said " I think therefore I am" ths comfirming it as an absolute truth and beginning from there to establish other truths. However, postmodernist theorists believe that there are no absolute truths. I think this is a dangerous way of thinking as it goes against science who's practice is to search for the absolute truth of something, find it and use it to make our lives better and the lives of further generations.

Anyways, am I wrong AH? Should I not question it at all?Also, is this postmodernist theory only accepted as "fact" in literature courses or is it like that in philosophy and psychology ones as well? I have to say, it's in other modules as well in my literature course.By the way I am not some crazy Jordan Peterson fanboy, I do however like some of his psychology.

I disagree with postmodernism because it goes against God. It is absolutely true that Marxism failed, otherwise postmodernists would admit to being Marxist. As a Catholic, I have incorporated the philosophy of the Zoroastrians into my faith. Zoroastrianism separates and parses good from evil. Does there have to be a right and a wrong? Absolutely, in my opinion. If you do a maths problem and get it wrong, then you are wrong regardless of the fact that you had a thought process in deriving the wrong answer.

Bertie Ahern demonstrated postmodernism in a remark he made about a tribunal which found that he had told untruths. Ahern said the tribunal (which had established the facts) had its opinion and he had his. As a society, I fear we will soon discover this blanket denial of truth is unbecoming, and in a very literal way.

endacl · 14-10-2019 8:26pm

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

Its all theory.

There is no such thing as fact.

Certainly not in literature

While this may be true, an unfortunate extrapolation is that all opinions have become equal and valid, simply by virtue of somebody holding them.

riclad · 14-10-2019 9:01pm

Science is built on absolute truth,
experiments can be tested and repeated and will give the same result.
Postmodernism is a way of looking at the world,
so reality may be different for every person, each person,s point of view is valid as the next.There is no ultimate truth or objective reality .
Its not meant to be applied in real life ,also it can be useful when making art
or writing fiction .
If it was true then real life would be chaotic or dangerous.
it,s like people who commit a crime and say ah sure it,s ok,
it was an artistic performance .I,m postmodern, if i say its ok to rob a car and dump it in the river ,than it,s fine.
Do not punish me .
In my reality its fine, i am creating art.
If all opinions become equal and valid than the opinions of neo nazi,s and extreme climate change denier,s are just as good as liberal,s or scientist,s .
So for instance some people sayall government regulation is bad,
reduce regulation, allow companys to sell guns to anyone ,or dump nuclear waste anywhere they want,
even if it pose,s a danger to public health.

riffmongous · 14-10-2019 9:14pm

riclad wrote: »

Science is built on absolute truth,
experiments can be tested and repeated and will give the same result.
Postmodernism is a way of looking at the world,
so reality may be different for every person, each person,s point of view is valid as the next.There is no ultimate truth or objective reality .
Its not meant to be applied in real life ,also it can be useful when making art
or writing fiction .
If it was true then real life would be chaotic or dangerous.
it,s like people who commit a crime and say ah sure it,s ok,
it was an artistic performance .I,m postmodern, if i say its ok to rob a car and dump it in the river ,than it,s fine.
Do not punish me .
In my reality its fine, i am creating art.
If all opinions become equal and valid than the opinions of neo nazi,s and extreme climate change denier,s are just as good as liberal,s or scientist,s .
So for instance some people sayall government regulation is bad,
reduce regulation, allow companys to sell guns to anyone ,or dump nuclear waste anywhere they want,
even if it pose,s a danger to public health.

That's not totally true. You'll get the same result within some error or tolerance level, maybe depending on the experiment design.

sabat · 14-10-2019 9:51pm

realitykeeper wrote: »

As a Catholic, I have incorporated the philosophy of the Zoroastrians into my faith.

That's orientalist syncretism. I should report you to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Wibbs · 14-10-2019 9:54pm

I have found that in some ways Post Modernism is rather like quantum physics; both are complex ideas, but hijacked by the lazy of mind, or the charlatans as a clever sounding shorthand for ignorance and/or spoofery.

sk8erboii wrote: »

In the early modern era sailors circumnavigated the world to prove that it is round.

Actually not quite. It was known to be a globe and this had been known for millennia, certainly in areas considered even vaguely civilised. Indeed it had been measured and quite accurately too. By either a Greek or Egyptian or Ptolemaic Egyptian, can't recall. Where it went a little wrong was yet another Greek lad living in Egypt by the name of Ptolemy*. A true polymath of learning and general brilliance, which he was wont to inform everyone. Anyway he also measured it, but got it wrong by a couple of thousand miles and him having the better rep and publicists, that was the measurement that took hold. Using that measurement Columbus would have actually bumped into Asia, the "Indies", so his confusion is understandable. The heliocentric view of the cosmos was also posited by yet again a few Greeks, one in particular whose name escapes me, Aris something, but not totle(he also worked out the size of the moon(and sun IIRC) and possible distances between them and that stars were further away too. Which makes it worse that I can't recall his name). Anyway even there our old mate Ptolemy also poo poo'd that as he thought it too complex, though he wasn't alone and until Copernicous stuck his oar in, though a few brainiacs considered other possibilities that more reflected reality. A fair few Arab dudes considered it. Leo DaVinci being another. Not a shock with that lad to be fair. But I digress...

Ptolemy, his name and also the name of the Greek installed by Alex the only Bleedin Deadly, dynastic rulers of Egypt. Cleopatra being the last of the line.

Nermal · 14-10-2019 10:08pm

All you need to know is that it has dominated our intellectual life for half a century while producing no technology and no worthwhile art. It’s a dead end. As the man said, you should have done engineering.

riclad · 14-10-2019 10:38pm

Ant vaxxers are sort of postmodern in that they ignore science and say
vaccination is bad or dangerous,
meanwhile they want their children to go to school even if they put other
peoples children at risk of getting measle,s or other disease,s .
I think postmodernism has produced some valuable art, you could make a film where something happens, but the people involved have different reactions , because they have their own opinion on did this happen,
what exactly happened .
Post modernism is dangerous in that it could be used by extremists or scam artists, to hide the truth ,or simply make up so called facts
to protect their status or defend extreme belief,s .
Trump is a post modern president in that he seems to change his opinion on a daily basis depending on the reaction of people around him or what he see,s tv.
he do,es not care if the kurds get wiped out by the turkish army even though they had a large role in helping america defeat isis .

JupiterKid · 14-10-2019 11:14pm

I studied Geography in college in the 1990s and one of our lecturers in urban geog did a module on the evolution of urban studies from the 18th century to the late 20th.

We looked at modernist theory, structuralist, Marxist and neo-Marxist (he was a self-described "neo-Marxian") and touched on Post-modernist theory but with the caveat that postmodernism was not really applied to urban studies in a fully developed way by the mid 1990s, only being used by a small handful of academics in the USA.

Within the domain of urban geography, postmodernist thought basically questioned the analytical, quantitative structuralist apprach to the study of cities using empirical data and suggested adopting a more ethnological, qualitative approach quite common in Social Studies by the 1990s. It also asserted that only symbols can really be used as reference points for research - Venturi's 1980s work on the symbolism of Las Vegas as a commentary on the disposable, superficial culture of late 20th century USA and Michel Foucault's work on crime and punishment and power systems and societal control were the subject of a few classes we did.

Basically my understanding of "postmodernism" is that it rejects empirical, measurable data as absolute truths and posits things like social and cultural "constructs" as reference points. It has its place in the wider body of academic thought, but a lot of it is weak and incoherent and far too open to varying interpretation.

Basically a lot of what passes as "postmodernist" work is BS and often an excuse for rather shoddy methodology.

realitykeeper · 15-10-2019 12:27pm

sabat wrote: »

That's orientalist syncretism.

No its not, its just the separation of good and evil is not given the prominence it should within Christianity generally when at its core, that is really what it is all about.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 15-10-2019 12:44pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

Anyways, am I wrong AH? Should I not question it at all?Also, is this postmodernist theory only accepted as "fact" in literature courses or is it like that in philosophy and psychology ones as well? I have to say, it's in other modules as well in my literature course.By the way I am not some crazy Jordan Peterson fanboy, I do however like some of his psychology.

Do you want to pass the exam? If so, then for God's sake stay quiet about science, Descartes, absolute truth, and Jordan Peterson.

The basic premise of modern feminist theory is to regard gender as a "social construct," and then to look at all the ways in which (white, male) thinkers and writers have "constructed" the social and cultural world to position women as inferior or secondary.

This is the game you have to play if you want to do well — repeatedly refer to gender as something that is "constructed" or "performed" rather than something that has any essential characteristics. Ignore science, don't mention "truth," don't contradict the core tenets of feminist theory. Suck it up and just keep repeating the basic formula of constructedness and performativity in relation to whatever texts you're supposed to be analyzing.

topper75 · 15-10-2019 12:45pm

All these philosophers chaps, down through time - have they ever actually managed to change anything?

After decades of heavy thought on the matter I have to conclude that it is all just a waste of time.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 15-10-2019 12:54pm

topper75 wrote: »

All these philosophers chaps, down through time - have they ever actually managed to change anything?

Well ... yes. Modern mathematics, science, political theory, and even medicine all emerged from what was once called philosophy. The philosophers of the past have fundamentally shaped the world we live in today.

sbsquarepants · 15-10-2019 1:23pm

sk8erboii wrote: »

Lol youre not getting it. PM challenges truths, not that nothing is ‘true’ Ever heard of the flying spaghetti monster? Its an satirical PM movement mocking religion. PM gestated as a response to modernist thought relapsing to pre-modernist thought. (E.g ‘Someone told me the earth is round even though i have not done any critical thinking or experiment to prove that theory, i will believe this governmenf/person/religion). As we all know solipsist thought is much more dangerous. Some farmer saw his cow die when the lady next door walk past. Therefore she is a witch. Therefore lets burn her at the stake.

How are those 2 things in any way diffferent?

Someone said the world was round and you believed them, accepted it as a fact, despite not having sailed around it yourself.

Someone said the woman next door walked past just as their cow died, and you believed them, despite not having seen her do it yourself?

Wibbs · 15-10-2019 1:32pm

sbsquarepants wrote: »

How are those 2 things in any way diffferent?

Well, I suppose SB they're actually not different. Save in one fundamental way; the world is round is universally accepted as a True Fact now, whereas witches killing cows isn't. However at one time in some cultures witches with cow killing abilities were also considered True Facts. From which we can generally conclude that something that is considered a True Fact requires consensus and this can change over time. Which is kind of post modernist thinking, though this was considered way way before that movement was ever dreamt of. It was Kant(IIRC) when after a lecture about the earth orbiting the sun, one of his students mused how obvious this was and how stupid were people who used to believe that the sun orbited the earth. Kant replied with how different would a sunset look, depending on what system you believed?

Chips Lovell · 15-10-2019 1:35pm

Perla Full Urination wrote: »

This is the game you have to play if you want to do well — repeatedly refer to gender as something that is "constructed" or "performed" rather than something that has any essential characteristics. Ignore science, don't mention "truth," don't contradict the core tenets of feminist theory. Suck it up and just keep repeating the basic formula of constructedness and performativity in relation to whatever texts you're supposed to be analyzing.

If you're attending a caricature of a university, maybe. If you're attending an actual university, located in the real world, outside of your fevered imagination, not so much.

mariaalice · 15-10-2019 1:38pm

It's political the same way as asking if mental health is nature or nurture, its much easier to add a political slant to qualitative research versus quantitative research.

riffmongous · 15-10-2019 2:10pm

Wibbs wrote: »

Well, I suppose SB they're actually not different. Save in one fundamental way; the world is round is universally accepted as a True Fact now, whereas witches killing cows isn't. However at one time in some cultures witches with cow killing abilities were also considered True Facts. From which we can generally conclude that something that is considered a True Fact requires consensus and this can change over time. Which is kind of post modernist thinking, though this was considered way way before that movement was ever dreamt of. It was Kant(IIRC) when after a lecture about the earth orbiting the sun, one of his students mused how obvious this was and how stupid were people who used to believe that the sun orbited the earth. Kant replied with how different would a sunset look, depending on what system you believed?

Not to mention that a lot of what Kant said in that lecture, was probably not 'the truth', but rather something like the right answers for the wrong reasons since Einstein and general relativity gave us a different 'truth'

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 15-10-2019 2:16pm

Chips Lovell wrote: »

If you're attending a caricature of a university, maybe. If you're attending an actual university, located in the real world, outside of your fevered imagination, not so much.

Do you want to talk about your own experience of writing papers in feminist theory and being graded by some of the most ideologically motivated faculty on any modern university campus?

riclad · 15-10-2019 2:19pm

Philosophers can make a positive contribution to the world, they can think about broad topics that politicians would never consider .
There was a time when green policy was very obscure or just for hippy liberal s in universitys .
Now politicans in many countrys are thinking of banning petrol and diesel cars because of the harm to the environment .
Tech companys are employing arts graduate,s ,
they need to think about things like should we accept ad,s for cigarettes or vaping or gambling on our website .Even though they are legal,but they may be harmful to our customers .
Should we have time limits on certain app,s or games like fortnite which can be addictive for young users .There has to be a place where people can go to learn and exchange idea,s and think about random subjects .
At the moment universitys and third level college,s serve that function.
at some point some philosophers and writers created the concept of socialism and green theory .
quote; from wikipedia

Green theory uses case studies of people living on land to better understand economy. Later, the idea of "ecological footprint" developed.

These idea,s spread around the world and have a major effect on the live,s of ordinary people .
Also many political groups and partys were formed based on idea,s or theorys
created by philosophers .

Chips Lovell · 15-10-2019 2:24pm

Perla Full Urination wrote: »

Do you want to talk about your own experience of writing papers in feminist theory and being graded by some of the most ideologically motivated faculty on any modern university campus?

No, I'm talking about your's or lack thereof. I don't believe you've ever darkened the door of a university arts or humanities department.

mariaalice · 15-10-2019 2:29pm

Green policies are based on empirical evidence, its a good point though becaue while there is empirical evidence of the damage fossil fuel is doing green politics, on the other hand, is full of all sorts of Wolley, vague, very left ideas.

beejee · 15-10-2019 2:34pm

Universalism. There is THE truth, and every other arse defining their own version of reality will be dodo's.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 15-10-2019 2:39pm

Chips Lovell wrote: »

No, I'm talking about yours or lack thereof. I don't believe you've ever darkened the door of a university arts or humanities department.

Believe what you like, but you're wrong there, I'm afraid.

riffmongous · 15-10-2019 2:43pm

beejee wrote: »

Universalism. There is THE truth, and every other arse defining their own version of reality will be dodo's.

Scientifically, I'm not so convinced there is..

But a bigger and at times more pertinent question is, if there is a truth can we even know it? There is so much complexity and randomness in nature, and so much that is unknown and imprecise.,

beejee · 15-10-2019 2:54pm

riffmongous wrote: »

Scientifically, I'm not so convinced there is..

But a bigger and at times more pertinent question is, if there is a truth can we even know it? There is so much complexity and randomness in nature, and so much that is unknown and imprecise.,

Just because the truth hasn't been enacted doesn't mean it's not there. In these days of outright denial of biology, for example, all it does is promote the idea of "no truth". Post-truth.

It's a load of trash.

The Chinese may consider it culturally appropriate to kill prisoners and price the bullet to the family, or to harvest organs from "disagreeable" populations. That is their truth, it is okay. If you challenge that regional truth, you are rebuffed with "but that's their reality and it's okay Jack, who are you to question..." etc.

But the universal truth is that they are wrong. Human life should not be treated that way, and to hell with people who protect that stuff.

There is right and wrong, and it's not something that changes because you step over a border, or because you desire to be a giraffe.

Alternatively, if you want to consider it a war of one truth versus another, then it's to be fought and not just accepted.

Black Swan · 15-10-2019 3:37pm

irishguitarlad wrote: »

However, postmodernist theorists believe that there are no absolute truths.

"Postmodernist theorists" are not all identical.

irishguitarlad wrote: »

I think this is a dangerous way of thinking as it goes against science who's practice is to search for the absolute truth of something, find it and use it to make our lives better and the lives of further generations.

Is there a difference between truth and "absolute truth?"

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 15-10-2019 4:16pm

riffmongous wrote: »

But a bigger and at times more pertinent question is, if there is a truth can we even know it?

Mathematics is true, and that truth is established via rigorous proof.

When it comes to a topic like literature, I don't know how one begins to establish "truth" when so much is open to interpretation.

Postmodernism

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