The social effects of a “Libertarian” anti-individualistic post-modernism for us today, are meaningful and significant. Perhaps, many of us have heard about post-modernism? And some can say that we have read about it. But how many really know how much post-modernism has influenced every single thing we now do and think? Making special reference to Jordan Peterson's critiques as well as Socrates and The Enlightenment period and the internet, the essay discusses and evaluates the good and bad side effects of post-modernism and addresses how we might learn from understanding them. This academic essay was part of previous research undertaken when I was lecturing at the University of Western Australia where I had also achieved my PhD. In 2015 I left it unpublished and have subsequently amended and updated it.
Table of Contents
1. Abstract
2. Good vs bad side effects and how we can learn from understanding them.
3. The problem with the definition of the individual and individualism: left wing ideology libertarian ideas – from the French Revolution
4. Down with hierarchy, meta narratives and an era of protest
5. The Internet
6. The 1990s and the death of the grand narratives / meta-narratives and the transgression of all boundaries and categories
7. The 2000s, the digital dream and the age of alter-modernism
7.1 (digital was supposed to be different - it was supposed to be inventing the world)
8. A solution? What can we do?
Objectives and Core Topics
This essay evaluates the societal impacts of "Libertarian" anti-individualistic post-modernism, tracing its development from the 1960s to the digital age. It explores how these ideologies have challenged traditional frameworks, such as Socratic rationalism and Enlightenment values, and examines the role of the internet in dissolving established boundaries and expertise.
- The historical evolution of post-modernist thought and its critique of Western hierarchy.
- The tension between Socratic/Enlightenment rationality and modern collectivist identity politics.
- The role of the internet and digital media in reshaping human perception and institutional authority.
- The social consequences of deconstructing meta-narratives and binary structures.
- A proposed return to Socratic rationalism as a remedy for contemporary societal confusion.
Excerpt from the Book
Good vs bad side effects and how we can learn from understanding them.
In a sense, we have never really come out from the confusion that had arrived to us from questions asked in the 60s in the age of high modernism and in the “Libertarian” anti-individualistic post-modernism of the 90s. In fact, the social effects of a “Libertarian” anti-individualistic post-modernism for us today, are meaningful and significant. Perhaps, many of us have heard about post-modernism? And some can say that we have read about it. But how many really know how much post-modernism has influenced every single thing we now do and think?
There is Jordan Peterson of course who speaks today about post-modernists. As he said in 2017, “They don’t believe in the individual…they don’t believe in logic, they believe that logic is part of the process by which the patriarchal institutions of the west continue to dominate and to justify their dominance. They don’t believe in dialogue. They don’t believe that people of good will can come to consensus through the exchange of ideas…they don’t believe in letting people speak…” because it would be in support of the dominant culture. However, the topic is larger and starts far earlier.
But what exactly is post-modernism?
Post-modernism is a philosophical and cultural movement. It is something that is central to all parts of our culture and the way we think and live life, “from law, to religion, to art, to economics, which are not often easy to see…”. The movement was originally non-conformist in nature but nonetheless has put great pressure on everyone who does not accept to conform to it especially in the Anglo-Saxon speaking world. One thing that is central to it, is that one must not try to define or measure it, and this is part of its philosophy. Instead, post-modernists “…love plurality, ambiguity, they don’t much like singularity and precision”. In fact, against the temple or church being number one in society and against conformity, they are suspicious of people who like pigeonholing, dissecting and pinning things down.
Chapter Summaries
Abstract: Provides an overview of the essay’s investigation into the long-term societal influence of post-modernism and its critique of modern institutions.
Good vs bad side effects and how we can learn from understanding them.: Discusses the persistent confusion surrounding post-modernism and introduces its philosophical origins and core challenge to objective truth.
The problem with the definition of the individual and individualism: left wing ideology libertarian ideas – from the French Revolution: Traces the anti-individualistic shift back to 1960s counter-culture and French radical philosophy, contrasting it with Socratic and Enlightenment traditions.
Down with hierarchy, meta narratives and an era of protest: Analyzes the post-modernist rejection of hierarchy and grand narratives, particularly in art and social organization.
The Internet: Examines how the digital age and the internet have facilitated the "collectivist" turn while undermining traditional forms of expertise.
The 1990s and the death of the grand narratives / meta-narratives and the transgression of all boundaries and categories: Explores the cultural impact of the 1990s, where traditional boundaries were dissolved in favor of pastiche and collectivist identity politics.
The 2000s, the digital dream and the age of alter-modernism: Details the fusion of post-modernism with digital technology and the resulting homogenization of culture and loss of rational binary structures.
(digital was supposed to be different - it was supposed to be inventing the world): A sub-section focused on the discrepancy between the initial promise of the internet and its actual social impact.
A solution? What can we do?: Proposes a re-engagement with Socratic rationalism and old values as a means to restore moral clarity and human agency.
Keywords
Post-modernism, Libertarianism, Collectivism, Socratic Rationalism, Enlightenment, Individualism, Meta-narratives, Hierarchy, Jordan Peterson, Internet, Alter-modernism, Rationality, Identity Politics, Ethics, Epistemology.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
The book examines the social and philosophical impacts of "Libertarian" anti-individualistic post-modernism, analyzing how these ideas have reshaped Western culture since the 1960s.
Which central topics are discussed?
Key topics include the decline of Socratic and Enlightenment values, the rejection of hierarchy, the influence of French post-structuralist thought, and the role of the internet in contemporary society.
What is the author's primary research objective?
The objective is to evaluate the consequences of a post-modernist world-view that denies fixed truths, and to suggest that a return to rationalist inquiry is necessary for societal stability.
What scientific or philosophical methods are employed?
The essay utilizes a qualitative, historical, and philosophical analysis, drawing on critical theory, intellectual history, and references to influential thinkers like Socrates, Plato, and contemporary critics like Jordan Peterson.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The text tracks the chronological development of post-modernism through the 60s, 90s, and 2000s, focusing on the destruction of meta-narratives, the democratization of knowledge via the internet, and the rise of identity-based politics.
How would you characterize the work using keywords?
The work is defined by themes of post-modernism, collectivism, the crisis of individualism, digital culture, and the necessity of Socratic rationalism.
What is the author's perspective on the internet?
The author argues that while the internet was intended to empower and connect, it has inadvertently undermined expertise and replaced substantive truth with superficial, digital distraction.
How does the author interpret the 1990s cultural landscape?
The 1990s are presented as a pivotal decade where the rejection of grand narratives led to a "pick and mix" culture, resulting in cultural amnesia and the loss of meaningful distinctions between high and low culture.
Why does the author advocate for a return to Socratic thought?
The author believes that Socratic rationalism provides the necessary frameworks for moral conduct and truth, which are missing in a post-modern environment dominated by ephemeral, identity-based ideologies.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Cyrus Manasseh (Autor:in), 2015, The Words of Gandhi and How the Libertarian Collectivist Anti-individualistic Post-Modern Turn has Shaped our World, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/591114
