What Postmodernism Is - Essay Example

10 October Postmodernism: Describe what postmodernism is. Postmodernism represents the end of modernism. There is an obvious contrast between the philosophy of modernism and postmodernism. While the foundation of modernism is laid by the belief that reality or truth can be understood or described objectively, postmodernism advocates that it is not possible to understand or describe reality objectively. Modernists were of the view that it is possible to understand reality with complete certainty by way of observation and reasoning.

The age of enlightenment arose from modernism. Modernism ended abruptly when philosophers began to question the ability to understand truth objectively. Postmodernism intends to establish that it is not in the power of human beings to change the world for their own benefits. Humans do not possess an unlimited potential to understand the world. According to “The Big Story”, what is meant by saying that postmodernists are “hypocritical”? Postmodernists are hypocritical according to “The Big Story” because they reject the possibility that objective reality can exist and yet, they do not appear to practice what they advocate to people.

We know that objective truth exists, but postmodernist are only suspicious of such realities. They do not have any concrete reason to defy such objective facts. It is only suspicion and virtue of hypocrisy that keeps them from believing in them. Some objective realities are simply inescapable. There cannot be a world in which there is no objective truth. For example, hurting kids under every circumstance is completely wrong. There cannot be any possible world in which such a practice could be considered acceptable.

If this objective reality is denied and it is assumed that reality cannot be understood objectively, then it is hypocritical. Postmodernists say that the truth is not attainable. Do you agree? Why or why not? I do not agree that the truth is not attainable. I think that there are many realities which are perfectly understood by everyone. This is because truth can be described objectively which suggests that truth is completely attainable. A world where truth is not attainable would be a picture of complete chaos.

This is why postmodernism is hypocritical. If there is no absolute truth as postmodernists suggest, then everyone would be free to violate moral principles because no one would believe in them. Truth is both attainable and can be understood. People can come to the right knowledge which helps them differentiate between right and wrong. Without absolute truth in the world, there would be much confusion. How does Budziszewski argue against this in “Theophilus Gives a Speech”? While postmodernist believe that truth is not attainable, Budziszewski argues against this by claiming that there is truth to be found.

There is truth to be found because it is attainable. To believe in something is to say that it is true which makes postmodernists hypocritical because they believe in something and still say that truth is not attainable. There are absolute realities because truth cannot be whatever a person believes in. There are things which are definitely right and things which are definitely wrong. Human beings certainly have the potential to find truth because it is there in the world to be found and understood.

To deny this reality is to be ignorant. Postmodernism advocates complete ignorance about the realities of this world which is not plausible.