Postmodernism as Philosophical Style - Essay Example

Postmodernism The term postmodernism refers to a philosophical style that came up after the modernity philosophical period. It is a philosophical direction, which counteracts and criticizes the modern way of thinking. Post modernism ideology was conceived in France in the third quarter of the 20th centuries. It first entered philosophical lexicology in 1979. Postmodernism concocted its ideology from different fields of thoughts like the existentialism, structuralism, and relativism (Hicks 125).

It is one of the stages characterizing the evolution of humankind philosophy. At first, the philosophy arena was dominated by pre-modernism, and then came the modernism thoughts and ideologies. Postmodernism is meant to challenge and evaluates the validity of the preceding philosophical direction, which was modernism. In essence, postmodernism can be described as the rhetorical and strategic application of concepts like repetition, simulacrum, and difference to criticize other concepts like the historical progresses of ideology, epistemic certainty, and the universality of meaning (O’Donnell 34).

Postmodern philosophical thinking highlights some of the demerits of modernism as a direction of thinking. Postmodernists criticize by terming modernity as a western philosophy, which is outdated in the modern times. The most fundamental elements of postmodern ideology are the questions concerning the validity of Christianity, truth, western moral principles and the general human mentality. Postmodern philosophers question the validity of Christianity as a central feature of human morality. It asserts that the western philosophy continues to rely on ancient and traditional theological principles, capitalism, and rigid political systems (Hicks 57).

It also criticizes the aspect the irrational and unfair trade-off that exists between energy and the environment for their selfish economic reasons. Postmodernists claim that the western nations like France and Italy still work with the concepts developed from the structural revolution experienced during the mid of 20th centuries. These western nations acknowledged modernism philosophers like Freud and Marx. Postmodernists criticize modernism for their continual acknowledgement of historical ideologies developed during the revolutionary times at the expense of taking philosophy to the next level (O’Donnell 30).

The main principles advocated by this philosophical direction include discrediting the use of weapons of mass destruction, the wasteful consumption of the earth’s resources, and the manipulation of economic mechanisms to satisfy the needs of the few within the society. These practices bring unfairness in terms of humanitarian and the social economic necessities of a nation’s population (Hicks 89). Therefore, the main purpose of this ideology is to highlights the plights experiences through the continual use of outdated and historical styles of thinking.

Concerning the Christian aspect of truth, postmodernism regards truth as a fundamental aspect that the individual may consider when verifying validity of the claim. Postmodern philosophers criticize that the modernism element of nationalism and capitalism facilitates the creation of boundaries and discrimination among the members of a society (O’Donnell 178). Postmodern ideologies acknowledge the need of globalization and the creation of a society that addresses the social and economic factors of a population in an equitable manner.

Modernistic principles focus so much in satisfying the interests of the royal within a community. The blinding of people with Christian teachings enhances it. In addition, postmodern philosophy tries to re-analyze the ideas concerning the aspect of truth as dealt with in modernism and pre-modern philosophies. Postmodernists believe that there is no objectivity with regard to the establishment of truth in human life (O’Donnell 47). They distance themselves from the concept of imposing subjective principles concerning the right and wrong in the society.

Post modernism advocates for the need of humanity to depend on the psychological principle of self-realization, rather than to believe in divine understanding of truth. In the political context, postmodernists assert the importance of democracy in governing the human population. Therefore, one can conclude that the significance of this direction of philosophy can be applied in addressing the socio-economic crisis (Hicks 45). Works Cited Hicks, Stephen.

Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism From Rousseau To Foucault. New York: Scholargy Publishing, Inc., 2004. Print. ODonnell, Kevin. Postmodernism. California: Lion, 2003. Print.