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'''Postmodernism''' is an [[Idealism|idealist]] movement associated with [[neoliberalism]] that rejects historical truth and science. It sees all ideas as equally viable even if they are not based in [[Materialism|material]] reality | '''Postmodernism''' is an [[Idealism|idealist]] and [[Petty bourgeoisie|petty-bourgeois]]<ref name=":2">{{Web citation|author=J. Sykes|newspaper=[[Fight Back! News]]|title=On the origins and development of postmodernism|date=2023-09-15|url=https://www.fightbacknews.org/2023/9/15/origins-and-development-postmodernism|retrieved=2023-09-16}}</ref> movement associated with [[neoliberalism]] that rejects historical truth and science. It sees all ideas as equally viable even if they are not based in [[Materialism|material]] reality<ref>{{Web citation|author=Connor Harney|newspaper=[[Liberation News]]|title=Teaching assistants’ strike stops rehabilitation of Confederate statue|date=2018-12-19|url=https://www.liberationnews.org/teaching-assistants-strike-stops-rehabilitation-of-confederate-statue/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421023135/https://www.liberationnews.org/teaching-assistants-strike-stops-rehabilitation-of-confederate-statue/|archive-date=2021-04-21|retrieved=2022-12-31}}</ref> and completely rejects the existence of progress.<ref name=":1">{{Web citation|author=Hamid Alizadeh|newspaper=Socialist Appeal|title=In Defence of Hegel|date=2020-08-27|url=https://www.socialist.net/in-defence-of-hegel.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201032314/https://www.socialist.net/in-defence-of-hegel.htm|archive-date=2022-12-01}}</ref> Postmodernists reject any theory that attempts to explain all of [[human history]], including [[Marxism]]. Major postmodernist theorists include [[Jacques Derrida]] and [[Michael Foucault]].<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=J. Sykes|newspaper=[[Fight Back! News]]|title=Red Theory: Marxism against postmodernism|date=2022-07-03|url=http://www.fightbacknews.org/2022/7/3/red-theory-marxism-against-postmodernism|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926195512/http://www.fightbacknews.org/2022/7/3/red-theory-marxism-against-postmodernism|archive-date=2022-09-26|retrieved=2023-02-05}}</ref> Foucault rejected [[historical materialism]] and believed history happened by accident.<ref name=":2" /> | ||
Postmodernism is a crude form of [[Immanuel Kant|Kant]]'s dualism, which combined [[rationalism]] and [[empiricism]]. It denies any universal system of rational thought but also believes humans cannot understand reality because they have subjective viewpoints.<ref name=":1" /> | |||
Some postmodernists identify as [[Post-Marxism|post-Marxists]] or neo-Marxists despite attacking [[Actually Existing Socialism|actually existing socialism]].<ref name=":2" /> | |||
== Structuralism == | |||
[[Structuralism|Structuralists]] and [[Post-structuralism|post-structuralists]] argue that [[language]] and not [[class struggle]] shapes society.<ref name=":2" /> However, according to [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]], language is not a part of the [[Base and superstructure|base or superstructure]].<ref name=":02">{{Citation|author=[[Joseph Stalin]]|year=1950|title=Marxism and Problems of Linguistics|chapter=Concerning Marxism in Linguistics|quote=In this respect language radically differs from the superstructure. Take, for example, [[RSFSR|Russian]] society and the Russian language. In the course of the past thirty years the old, [[capitalist]] base has been eliminated in Russia and a new, [[socialist]] base has been built. Correspondingly, the superstructure on the capitalist base has been eliminated and a new superstructure created corresponding to the socialist base. The old political, legal and other institutions, consequently, have been supplanted by new, socialist institutions. But in spite of this the Russian language has remained basically what it was before the [[October Revolution]].|city=Moscow|publisher=''[[Pravda]]''|mia=https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/stalin/works/1950/jun/20.htm}}</ref> Post-structuralists also believe that language is shaped by power and use linguistics and psychology to criticize power. They do not distinguish between [[Dictatorship of the proletariat|power held by the workers]] and [[Dictatorship of the bourgeoisie|power held by the bourgeoisie]].<ref name=":2" /> | |||
== CIA support == | == CIA support == | ||
The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] spent millions of dollars promoting postmodernist groups including museums, theoretical magazines, and cultural fronts.<ref name=":0" /> | The [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] spent millions of dollars promoting postmodernist groups including museums, theoretical magazines, and cultural fronts.<ref name=":0" /> The CIA report "France: Defection of the Leftist Intellectuals" praised Foucault for the "critical demoliton of Marxist influence in the social sciences."<ref name=":2" /> | ||
== See also == | |||
* [[Existentialism]] | |||
* [[Western Marxism|Western left]] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
[[Category:Philosophy]] | [[Category:Philosophy]] | ||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:The Compatible Left]] | |||
Latest revision as of 12:20, 16 September 2023
Postmodernism is an idealist and petty-bourgeois[1] movement associated with neoliberalism that rejects historical truth and science. It sees all ideas as equally viable even if they are not based in material reality[2] and completely rejects the existence of progress.[3] Postmodernists reject any theory that attempts to explain all of human history, including Marxism. Major postmodernist theorists include Jacques Derrida and Michael Foucault.[4] Foucault rejected historical materialism and believed history happened by accident.[1]
Postmodernism is a crude form of Kant's dualism, which combined rationalism and empiricism. It denies any universal system of rational thought but also believes humans cannot understand reality because they have subjective viewpoints.[3]
Some postmodernists identify as post-Marxists or neo-Marxists despite attacking actually existing socialism.[1]
Structuralism[edit | edit source]
Structuralists and post-structuralists argue that language and not class struggle shapes society.[1] However, according to Stalin, language is not a part of the base or superstructure.[5] Post-structuralists also believe that language is shaped by power and use linguistics and psychology to criticize power. They do not distinguish between power held by the workers and power held by the bourgeoisie.[1]
CIA support[edit | edit source]
The CIA spent millions of dollars promoting postmodernist groups including museums, theoretical magazines, and cultural fronts.[4] The CIA report "France: Defection of the Leftist Intellectuals" praised Foucault for the "critical demoliton of Marxist influence in the social sciences."[1]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 J. Sykes (2023-09-15). "On the origins and development of postmodernism" Fight Back! News. Retrieved 2023-09-16.
- ↑ Connor Harney (2018-12-19). "Teaching assistants’ strike stops rehabilitation of Confederate statue" Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2022-12-31.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hamid Alizadeh (2020-08-27). "In Defence of Hegel" Socialist Appeal. Archived from the original on 2022-12-01.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 J. Sykes (2022-07-03). "Red Theory: Marxism against postmodernism" Fight Back! News. Archived from the original on 2022-09-26. Retrieved 2023-02-05.
- ↑ “In this respect language radically differs from the superstructure. Take, for example, Russian society and the Russian language. In the course of the past thirty years the old, capitalist base has been eliminated in Russia and a new, socialist base has been built. Correspondingly, the superstructure on the capitalist base has been eliminated and a new superstructure created corresponding to the socialist base. The old political, legal and other institutions, consequently, have been supplanted by new, socialist institutions. But in spite of this the Russian language has remained basically what it was before the October Revolution.”
Joseph Stalin (1950). Marxism and Problems of Linguistics: 'Concerning Marxism in Linguistics'. Moscow: Pravda. [MIA]