Dr. Andrew Colgan, a Canadian philosopher of education, has written a concise overview of the themes and arguments of Explaining Postmodernism. The Pocket Guide is available at Amazon in e-book and paperback and other at outlets. Here is my preface to the work:
A generation ago, postmodernism was merely an intellectual opposition to grand Enlightenment claims of knowledge, human rights, and progress—that is, to the achievements of the modern world. In our generation, postmodernism has become a sprawling set of cultural activist movements re-shaping journalism, political and legal debate, the art world, sexuality, and education at all levels.
“Hey! Ho! Western Civ has got to go!” was the protest chant at many universities in the 1980s and 1990s. As the 2000s and 2010s developed, the university-educated assumed positions of influence and leadership. Foucault’s metaphorical children have learned their lessons, grown up, and set out to overturn what they think of as a deeply oppressive, racist, sexist, imperialist, and generally destructive and self-destructive society.
By contrast, we inheritors of the Enlightenment civilization think we have inherited and are contributing to a magnificent culture of science, technology, wealth, and benevolence—albeit one with self-doubts, internal inconsistencies, and much room for improvement.
At the same time, we also hear voices condemning both the optimistic modernism and discontented postmodernism and urging us to return to the pre-modern era of tradition, stability, hierarchy, and everyone knowing their place.
So how do we sort out the bewildering array of currents and counter-currents of contemporary culture?
I thank Dr. Andrew Colgan for his careful and intelligent summarizing of my Explaining Postmodernism. The book was written in 1999-2000, and I am happy that years later this new guide will help make it useful to a new generation of intellectual seekers.
Stephen R. C. Hicks
May 2020
Related:
* The original book, Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault. Thesis: “The failure of epistemology made postmodernism possible, and the failure of socialism made postmodernism necessary.”
* Ph.D. philosophers review Explaining Postmodernism: Nine reviews in total — six very positive, two overall positive, and one mixed.