The Dangers of Postmodernism

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Postmodernism is an intellectual and cultural movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. It was mainly a reaction against the failures of modernism, which sought to impose a single ideology on society, and the disillusionment following World War II.

Key thinkers Jean-François Lyotard (1924-1998), Michel Foucault (1926-1984), and Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) challenged the validity of reason, objective truth, and metanarratives, arguing that these concepts and values are a product of the ideology of elite groups that indirectly serve their interests. They highlighted the subjective nature of experience, the instability of language and meaning, and the pervasive influence of power. This led to a focus on subjective experience, individual interpretation, sociocultural context, pluralism, and deconstruction.

While postmodernism undeniably had a positive impact on different fields, such as art, social science, and even politics, it's important to examine its hidden pitfalls, as ultimately it may be more dangerous than we think.

The Dangers of Postmodernism

1. The Loss of Objective Truth

At the heart of postmodernism lies a broad skepticism or relativism and a general suspicion towards reason. Postmodern thinkers rejected the idea of an objective truth and reality, especially of scientific and historical truths. According to them, truth is not an independently-existing entity to be discovered, but a construct shaped by social forces; knowledge is not something found, but something created or invented.

“'Truth' is to be understood as a system of ordered procedures for the production, regulation, distribution, circulation and operation of statements. 'Truth' is linked in a circular relation with systems of power which produce and sustain it, and to effects of power which it induces and which extend it. A 'regime' of truth.”
—Michel Foucault, Power/Knowledge (p. 133).

Since truth is merely a social construct, then all facts, according to postmodern thinkers, are ultimately matters of belief, and all claims are equally valid. With the loss of objective truth, shared understanding, effective communication, and consensus, especially in the sciences, become challenging, leading to societal fragmentation.

2. The Erosion of Moral Foundations

Postmodernism’s rejection of objective truth extends into ethics and morality, leading to moral relativism. Postmodern thinkers reject the existence of objective, universal moral principles. According to them, morality is not based on moral truths and standards that apply to all people in all situations, but on agreements within specific cultures or societies. And in society, it is the ruling class in particular who decides what is right or wrong, legal or illegal.

"The ruling class is and will continue to be the class of decision-makers."
—Jean-François Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition (p. 14)

This idea undermines the very foundations of morality. It threatens the stability of societal values and norms, leading to social disorder. Moreover, if morality is culture-bound and relative, then it becomes problematic to universally condemn harmful and unjust actions. This in turn makes it difficult to address critical issues in human rights and social justice.

3. Nihilism

Perhaps the most serious danger of postmodernism is its potential for nihilism, or the loss of inherent meaning and purpose in life. Postmodern thinkers reject “metanarratives,” or those overarching explanations societies use in order to understand reality and give coherence and meaning to human experience.

“Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodernism as incredulity toward metanarratives.”
—Jean-François Lyotard, The Postmodern Condition (p. xxiv)

Meaning, according to them, is subjective; it is something constructed and therefore fluid. Now without the metanarratives of religion, of progress, or of capitalism, etc. people get lost in a sense that there is no ultimate, overarching meaning or purpose in life. Not only that, they too lose their shared values which have traditionally provided direction and purpose to their lives. With this nihilism, people will experience a sense of existential emptiness, angst, despair, and apathy towards activities that were once considered meaningful within a shared metanarrative.

References

Duignan, Brian. "Postmodernism." Encyclopedia Britannica. Last updated February 10, 2025. Accessed March 18, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/postmodernism-philosophy.

Foucault, Michel. Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings 1972-1977. Edited by Colin Gordon. Translated by Colin Gordon et al. New York: Pantheon Books, 1980.

Lyotard, Jean-François. The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge. Translated by Geoff Bennington and Brian Massumi. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 1984.

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