philosophy_postmodernism

Postmodernism is a "theory of philosophy" which has been a "significant influence on contemporary thought in the sciences,the visual and perfoming arts, literature, religious studies, cultural studies generally, and of course, philosophy" according to Ozman and Cramer. Postmodernism is a result of the rejection of the thinking of the Enlightenment which concerned itself with objective science, morality, arts, and law. Postmodernists are against anything having to do with the Modern philosophy. Ozman and Craver suggest that postmodernists believe that no single "cultural tradition or mode of thought can serve as a metanarrative, a universal voice for all human experience". It seems as though the postmodern theory needs modern theory for the purpose of defining what it is not. There is a concern for difference, ethics, diversity, and gender.

The aim of education for the postmodernist is to free individuals from opression according to Oxman and Cramer. Teachers must help students become social-cultural beings who fight against social inequality and work to expand the basic human rights of each individual. Education should have the result of empowering individuals and society. However in the process of educating students to fight against inequality, there should be an awareness that the new process that they create is not as opressive as what previously existed. Many postmodernists advocate restoring the community and building a culture that is in harmany with the environment. Language is the starting point for all of this dialogue and education. It is important to develop oral communication skills with an emphasis on a common or shared language, and creating students who are skilled communicants, who are able to become politically active participants within the community.

The curriculum should empower people to transform society. Cultural differences, gender issues, and racial group identities should all be identified and valued for what they can do to assist in the development of society. Postmodernists want to study the specific histories of cultures on the margins of society for the value and learning that this experience can bring to the educational setting. Students should explore their own histories and cultures and how that relates to current social conditions.

Teachers are "cultural workers" who have jobs as social and political reformers. Their job is to teach not only a wealth of knowledge, but how that knowledge can be used to transform society. It is their task to create students who can be responsible members in a democratic society who have learned to constantly evaluate and critique the culture in which they live. It is important for teachers to have discussions with students which do not encourage them to automatically accept universal truths, but to explore them, to experiment with a variety of thoughts, and to learn to take personal responsibility for their own actions within the society. Teachers do this by the teaching of social skills, which in the past was a family or church responsibility. Teachers can provide opportunities to help children learn to question social concepts and norms. Teachers must also be cognizant of the importance of giving children the ability to communicate verbally through oral language skills as well as an awareness of body language, which will also give messages about their culture and beliefs and therefore influence their socialization.

Michel Foucault (1926-1984)

Foucault is a French philospher who observed that our ideas about truth have their origins in history, mostly through the confict or the struggles of humanity. Many institutions such as prisons and insane asylums, were developed around our ideas about insanity and prisoners, along with human inventions such as architecture and concrete as available tools to use to close in and deal with criminals. Fourcault believed that many events in history were not inevitable, but were the result of the creations of humanity, much like the asylums and prisons. Therefore humanity can create inventions to solve the problems. He states that humans can make changes but must make sure that the ideas and beliefs behind the creation of the inventions are not carried over into the development of new solutions. The changes should also be created with the idea in mind that the institutions they create to solve problems or inequalities could be limiting or controlling themselves in some way as well.

Jacques Derrida (1930- )

Derrida looked at the influence of language and the personal knowledge, experience, and meanings that each individual brings with them as they relate to text, either through writing it or reading it. Words represent meanings and meanings vary according to an indvidual's expreriences. Therefore people cannot get an objective account of logos or the words and text of a document. The meanings vary from person to person. Therefore whatever is written is "desconstructed of its orginal 'truth'" according to Ozman and Cramer. Derrida called this differance, which is from the words defer and difference. Derrida does not seem to ask "Who am I?", but rather "What would I be without language?". Derrida attempts to prove that what we think we know is not stable because of the interpretations of each individual on the language. We can communicate, but there will be problems with interpretations of what we are communicating.

Postmodernism is a relatively new theory and it can be quite confusing. However one of its strengths is the emphasis it provides on the moral education of students. Students are encouraged to look at the differences in cultures and to embrace them for the enrichment they provide to the learning community. Developing responsibility for the environment is also encouraged. However, many critics of postmodern thinking believe that it is too skeptical, relativistic and ready to state that no truth exists. Many believe that postmodern ideas really reflect previous philosophies because postmodernists do not believe in siding with the status quo. Many critics of postmodernism say that these thinkers are incorrect in assuming that gender and race are important and that they cannot be separated from 'class'. Some say that postmodernism encourages students to identify with those who are different. But in celebrating the differences, the things that are held in common are frequently ignored. Some critics have linked postmodernism to some extent with Marxism.

Postmodernists believe that moral education is important. I agree that students need to be taught morals, but my question is whose morals are being taught? "Postmodernists reject distinctions between high and low culture and maintain that the popular culture (such as the entertainment media, popular novels, and rock music) is deserving of study - not for emulation but as material to be analyzed and deconstructed to show how it helps or hurts." I didn't agree with this thought initially because quite honestly, I think this form of popular culture is beginning to be "the Bible" of thought for many children I've come to know. I hated the idea of giving it the status of having that much importance. It seems however, that it might be helpful to present this as a topic of discussion with the purpose of proving that this popular culture promotes more potentially destructive social concepts than self preserving ones. Doing so would be to accept the role of the teacher as a social or political reformer. However, my concern is that some teachers would allow bias in one direction over another. As a parent, I'm not sure I'd care to have another adult have that much influence over my children's thought processes in their formative years. But that would be because I'm a hands on parent with definate morals and ideals which promote social well being. I believe that postmodernism is a current and existing theory. Individual differences in cultures are being hilighted over our common unity as "one nation under God". While I agree that differences are valuable and necessary, I don't know that I agree that they should be emphasized over our likenesses as a unit of democracy. In the American melting pot, the differences are the flavor that make the recipe for democracy successful. But the spices alone cannot make the gumbo in that melting pot. There has to be a roux, something that holds it all together and allows it to stew. That's the commonality, where all the differences dissolve into a oneness of purpose and flavor.