Postmodern Critique Research Articles

Biology as a Construct: Universals, Historicity, and the Postmodern Critique.

The integration of postmodern thinking in the sciences, especially in biology, has been subject to harsh criticism. Contrary to Enlightenment ideals of objectivity and neutrality in the scientific method, the postmodern stance holds that truth is relative, not universal, and therefore progress is ambiguous. The effect of postmodern thought has ramifications that extend from the distrust of preexisting scientific conclusions to questions about the impact of progress in society. It also reflects skepticism about the scientific endeavor. Especially when postmodern ideas are considered to have gained traction, the anti-postmodern critique has become harsher. At stake is whether postmodern notions are indeed irrelevant, and-even more important-whether they compromise scientific progress. The conditional significance of universals in biology and the role of historicity in the evolutionary process makes biology different from the other natural sciences and subjects it to the postmodern critique. This article argues that rather than being viewed as a science that seeks universals, biology should be viewed as a construct, more relevant to a technology, aiming to attain functionalities. Such recognition may fuel progress and assist biology in attaining its ultimate goal, which is to address the most intricate questions about the living world.

Was Shaw a Victorian? We Need to Ask Another Question

ABSTRACT Shaw scholars have long hesitated to label Shaw a Victorian writer. Although almost half of his life overlapped Queen Victoria’s reign, Shaw’s challenges to nineteenth-century morals and mores tend to mark him as an outlier. This article advocates a fresh approach: perhaps we have been taking the “Victorian” question too literally. Postmodern critics have long urged us to look for diverse and contradictory elements in literary works that seem to be staid and classical. In this article, the author looks for commonalities between Shaw’s Getting Married and three nineteenth-century novels (Eight Cousins, Great Expectations, and Jane Eyre). Do theatrical strategies and fictional writing techniques ever change places? Do the characters in Victorian novels ever explore Shavian ideas? And can we use those commonalities to rethink some of our assumptions about the Victorian era?

Antropologia kultury a ewaluacja edukacyjna

The paper describes the connections between cultural anthropology and educational evaluation. It starts from the history of anthropologically oriented educational evaluation, when a qualitative-oriented approach emerged from a dominant, post-Tyleran tradition. It analyses connections between anthropological evaluation and anthropological paradigms, in particular the phenomenological one. The next section explores the notion of culture, a central category for ethnographic research, making anthropological evaluation distinctive from other research using a qualitative methodology. It presents the discussion about the notion of culture and the meaning of an inclusive approach to the research on school cultures. The third part describes distinctive features of anthropological evaluation, contrasted to the “traditional” anthropology. In the fourth part, conclusions from a postmodern critique of the linguistic turn are described: involvement in the power/knowledge relationships, an ontoepistemological status of collected data, fluidity and ambiguity of the evaluator’s roles. The next section covers probably the most obvious aspects of anthropological evaluation – the methodological implications. The last, sixth part presents challenges for doing evaluations in anthropological settings: keeping the integrity of the roles, reflecting on the biases, limitation in influence on change, “competition” with the postpositivist approach, and logistic difficulties.

A Profound Irrationalism Anchored in Postmodernism: A Study of Harold Pinter's The Birthday Party

This paper examines the presence of profound irrationalism in Harold Pinter's play, The Birthday Party, through the lens of postmodernism. The analysis draws on postmodernist theories of language, meaning, and power, to explore the ways in which the play reflects and critiques the socio-political context of the postmodern era. The paper argues that the play is an important work of postmodern literature that embodies the postmodern critique of rationality, reason, and truth.

Theory of communicative (dis)enfranchisement: introduction, explication, and application

Abstract In this essay, we set forth the theory of communicative (dis)enfranchisement (TCD). The TCD is useful for exploring the ramifications of the hegemonic ideologies which constrain and afford our everyday lives, and which are constructed and reflected in disenfranchising talk (DT). The TCD also asks what communication mechanisms work to reify and resist these hegemonic ideologies. We first introduce the warrant for this theorizing, then overview the assumptions of critical postmodernism and propositions of the TCD. We offer guidance for using the TCD via example research questions, suitable contexts, methodological tools, and conclusions researchers can potentially render. We offer criteria for evaluating the TCD regarding its consistency with critical postmodernism, utility as a heuristic framework, and capacity for claims-making. We respond to potential critiques of the TCD by distinguishing the TCD from six related bodies of communication theorizing, and by addressing the purported opaqueness of critical theorizing. Finally, we offer an example analysis to illustrate the TCD in research practice.

The validation of regulatory test methods - Conceptual, ethical, and philosophical foundations.

Validation establishes the reproducibility and relevance of regulatory test methods, particularly for new approach methods (NAMs) as alternatives to animal testing. While validation concepts provide a framework to assess method suitability, they rarely undergo method-critical assessment. This paper explores the philosophical and ethical foundations of the validation process, drawing from various philosophical traditions and contemporary ethical frameworks. How validation intersects with utilitarian principles, ethics of responsibility, and post-modern critiques is examined, offering a multifaceted perspective on its role in scientific progress and societal values. The paper argues for a paradigm shift in validation, moving beyond traditional animal-based comparisons towards more flexible, fit-for-purpose approaches that embrace emerging technologies and ethical con-siderations. Key ethical principles guiding NAM validation are discussed, including beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and respect for animal welfare. Integrating these principles with scientific rigor can create a more holistic validation framework that balances human safety, animal welfare, and technological innovation. By critically examining the philosophical underpinnings of validation, this paper aims to stimulate dialogue on reforming the process to better align with contemporary scientific knowledge, ethical standards, and societal expectations. It calls for a more adaptive, transparent, and ethically grounded approach to validation that can accelerate the adoption of innovative and human-relevant toxicological methods while maintaining scientific integrity and public trust.

ПІСЛЯ ВАЛЬТЕРА СКОТТА: АНГЛІЙСЬКИЙ ІСТОРИЧНИЙ РОМАН 1830–1840-Х РОКІВ

Background. The study examines the unique evolution of the historical novel genre following its rise to prominence in the first half of the 19th century, driven by Walter Scott's "Waverley Novels". The further development of the genre in early Victorian and mid-19th century English literature is traced, particularly in the works of G. P. R. James, W. H. Ainsworth, E. Bulwer-Lytton, and C. Kingsley. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to reinterpret issues of history, and the interaction between history and literature in the context of contemporary literary discourse. The goal of the research is to identify the artistic dominants and main directions of the development of the historical novel throughout the 19th century. Methods. The research employs a combined approach that integrates elements of historical-cultural, comparative-historical, and reception-aesthetic methods, as well as genre and postmodernist criticism. The research strategy is also based on methods of semantic, stylistic, narratological, contextual, intertextual, and textual analysis with elements of comparative typology. Results. It has been established that the formation of the historical novel genre and its rapidly growing popularity indicate a shift in aesthetic dominants in 19th-century literature. The popularity of Walter Scott's novels coincides with an intensified interest in national history during the Victorian period. The historical works of Thomas Carlyle and Thomas Babington Macaulay significantly contribute to the rising authority and popularity of historical fiction, influencing writers. Victorian historical novelists advocate for adherence to factual accuracy. At the same time, there emerges a tendency within the genre towards formulaic romanticization and mythologization of historical portrayals to cater to popular tastes. Сonclusions. The rising popularity of Victorian historical novels was not accompanied by an improvement in their artistic qualities. As the genre became more popular, it gradually lost the best features of the Walter Scott model. Mid-19th century English historical novels interpret history in connection with contemporary issues, often marked by bias, didacticism, and ideological engagement. The depiction of history allowed Victorian writers to illustrate progressive changes and celebrate the triumph of contemporary progress over the "old times," thereby reflecting the Enlightenment view of history that was also characteristic of Victorian progressivism.

Hegel and postmodernism: A reengagement

This paper introduces and addresses fresh perspectives in the engagement between Hegel and his postmodern critics and detractors. The first part of the paper examines some of the central discussions on postmodernity, specifically in the works of Lyotard and Habermas, and how they, in different ways, reengage Hegel. The second part focuses on Vattimo?s deployment of the concept of the postmodern credo as a way of returning to Hegel?s own interrogation of modern belief. The paper shows that the common thread linking the modernity of Hegel with the ?postmodern moment? remains belief, and in particular, belief in belief itself. The final part provides a brief introduction to all the contributions in this issue.

Development Hegemonic Constructions and the Resistance with Alternative Voices

This paper examines a burgeoning anthropological literature on development and debates surrounding development discourse. Some of these raise question regarding the concept of development, arguing that it is a contentious domain. Reviewing major literature on the issue, I suggest, dominant paradigms of development oversimplify the notion as if it were homogeneous. I take post modern critiques of development as an example in order to examine the nature of deconstructing development discourse. I argue some writers oversimplify the notion of development by using dichotomies- developed/ underdeveloped. By critically examining knowledge in the developmental domain in anthropology, this paper presents some ethnographic examples which raises conceptual, and practical questions regarding the nature of neoliberal development. The main thrust of this paper, therefore, is to question whether neoliberal development can be forever marked or fixed, a question central to this paper.

Navigating Discontent: Postmodern Interpretations of Steinbeck's The Winter of Our Discontent

Navigating Discontent: Postmodern Interpretations of Steinbeck's 'The Winter of Our Discontent'“ presents a comprehensive examination of John Steinbeck's classic novel through the lens of postmodern theory. This paper delves into the multifaceted layers of discontent depicted in the novel and explores how postmodern perspectives shed new light on its themes, characters, and narrative structure. This study examines the fluidity of meaning and the disintegration of identity within the text, drawing on many postmodern frameworks, including deconstruction, poststructuralism, and metafiction. It investigates how Steinbeck's portrayal of disillusionment, moral decay, and economic struggles resonates with postmodern critiques of societal constructs and power dynamics. Furthermore, this paper examines the role of language, narrative techniques, and intertextuality in shaping the reader's experience of discontent in the novel. By engaging with postmodern concepts of simulation, hyperreality, and the absence of stable truths, it explores the ways in which Steinbeck challenges traditional modes of storytelling and invites readers to navigate through a complex landscape of uncertainty and ambiguity. Through this postmodern interpretation, “Navigating Discontent” seeks to illuminate the enduring relevance of Steinbeck's work in contemporary discourse and invites readers to reconsider the novel's themes in the context of postmodern thought.

Deconstructing Reality: A Postmodern Analysis of the Concept of Truth

This article presents a postmodern analysis of the concept of truth, deconstructing reality by firstly tracing the historical development of the concept in different philosophical epochs and then highlighting the role of language, power, and cultural context in shaping our understanding of truth. The postmodernist rejection of absolute truth and emphasis on the relativity of truth is discussed, along with the influence of language on truth and the role of power in defining what is considered to be true. The article also examines the postmodernist critique of science and its emphasis on situating scientific knowledge within a particular cultural and historical context. Unlike previous scholarly works, the paper argues that, the postmodernist analysis of truth challenges traditional notions of objective reality and underscores the importance of context and perspective in shaping our understanding of truth.

Limits of Demythologization, Critique of Ideology, Postmodern Critique of Reason and Critique of the Other: Unsuccessful Moments in the History of Modern Rationality

Limits of Demythologization, Critique of Ideology, Postmodern Critique of Reason and Critique of the Other: Unsuccessful Moments in the History of Modern Rationality

Creating Cromwell: an analysis of the historical novel’s position and potentiality through a study of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy

ABSTRACT This article considers the role historical novels can play in representing the past, and to what extent (and how) such fiction can both challenge and enhance historiography. Focusing on Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy, it looks at how a novelist can use literary techniques, imaginative reconstruction of gaps in the historical record, and alternative interpretation of existing historiography (including primary sources) to radically alter our perception of the past; and indeed whether as a genre it may be able to do so more effectively than traditional (academic) historiography. In doing so, it traces the development of critical theory on the historical novel from Georg Lukács through postmodern critics such as Hayden White and Linda Hutcheon, to the recent work of Rosario Arias and Elodie Rousselot. Acknowledging the subjectivity and unreliability of ‘history’ (often presented as fact or ‘the past’) it argues for a blurring of the line between historiography and historical fiction, concluding that at least some historical novels should be granted admission to the field of historiography. The first steps towards this have been taken in the gradual acceptance of narrative history as subjective and just as incapable of ever truly representing the past as any other form of writing. It is to be hoped that there might be a similar acceptance of the historical novel’s ability to represent the past (albeit differently), to imaginatively reconstruct pasts that might have been. Rather than an inferior form, sharply delineated from ‘history’, might historical novels form a rich addition to a historiography considered as a spectrum rather than an exclusive and excluding discipline?

Géographicité, material agency and the thickness of the Earth: rediscovering Eric Dardel beyond ‘nature/culture’ dualisms

This paper reassesses and rediscovers the intellectual legacy of French geographer Eric Dardel (1899–1967). First discovered by geographers in the 1970s and 1980s, Dardel’s book L’Homme et la Terre was considered as a work predating alternatively humanistic approaches and postmodern critiques of positivism, which justifies why it passed substantially unperceived when it was first published in 1952. Yet, most of these authors have manifestly only read that book despite Dardel’s production was much larger, labelling Dardel as a ‘phenomenologist’ in a quite reductive way. Drawing upon recent literature on material agency and on phenomenology/post-phenomenology in geography, and based on the analysis of Dardel’s complete body of work, I argue that the contribution of the French geographer cannot be reduced to matters of phenomenology and subjective perception. To this end, I especially focus on Dardel’s references to the 19th-century tradition of Naturphilosophie that argued for a consubstantiality of ‘humankind’ and ‘nature’. Hence, I show how Dardel’s willingness to take seriously the materiality and agency of ‘the Earth’ through his notion of géographicité [geographicity or geographicalness] can give new and original insights to current geographies dealing with materiality, affect, human-nature hybridity and relational ontologies. Questioning dualisms such as humankind/nature, subject/object and nature/culture, early geographical understandings of the planet as a complex living being can foster the relevance of geography for both the ‘material turn’ advocating for plural agencies and for critical debates denying the principle of human supremacy over the planet.

Fanon's revolutionary murmurs: Toward a critical phenomenology of listening

AbstractDecolonial, postcolonial, and postmodern criticism is indebted to Frantz Fanon for revealing the hegemony of vision and visual language in Western imperial discourse. Yet, the import of Fanon's critique of coloniality reaches beyond a focus on vision into the sonorous. Attending to the often overlooked auditory dimension of Fanon's work, I argue, brings attention to the role of listening as a condition of possibility of a revolutionary consciousness. Listening to Fanon's careful descriptions of the experience of many Algerians of listening to the National Liberation Front's radio broadcast, The Voice of Free and Fighting Algeria in “This is the Voice of Algeria,” I propose that what makes possible the institution of a revolutionary consciousness is listening to murmurs. Listening to the materiality of voice and sound rather than the propositional content of speech is revolutionary because it challenges core values central to the project of colonial modernity: metaphysical logocentrism and the fungibility to which colonial modernity strives to reduce colonized subjects.

Christian Apophaticism in Jean-Luc Marion’s Early Works

In this article, I investigate Jean-Luc Marion’s early interpretation of Christian apophaticism with special reference to his reading of Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. I observe that the most remarkable, but rarely noted, aspect of this interpretation is Marion’s avoidance of the typical derivation of Dionysius’ negative theology from the Platonic tradition. Instead, he places him in the tradition of the critique of idols in the Old Testament. I argue that this intuition should not be lightly dismissed as early Christian apophaticism was at least partly developed in the context of Christian polemic against pagan idolatry. If Christian apophaticism is understood against this background, Marion’s claim that it foreshadows the modern and postmodern critique of theism appears more plausible than his detractors have been willing to admit.

ИСТОРИЗМ КАК ОБЩЕНАУЧНЫЙ ПРИНЦИП В СОВРЕМЕННОЙ СОЦИОЛОГИИ НАУКИ

In the given article, the author tries to defi ne historicism as an eff ective scientifi c principle in the fi eld of humanities, namely in the modern sociology of science. Trying to solve this task, the author focuses his attention on the B. Latour and G. Harman’s discussion on the essence of material objects. Analyzing their positions, the author states that despite initially diff erent philosophical attitudes, both thinkers consider the subject of their research in a historicist way, that is, as dynamic and changeable in the course of the time. This way of thinking, in turn, forces them to solve their program tasks, using the instruments which were developed in the frame of classical historicist thought. So B. Latour chooses to use the historicist methodology and G. Harman, in turn, reproduces its specific ontology. Taking into consideration the results of the study and opinions of domestic and foreign researchers, the author concludes that despite the destructive criticism of postmodernism, historicism still remains a kind of organizing principle in humanities, which doesn’t only set the context of modern discussions, but also forms prospects for further development.

Between Habermas and Lyotard: Rethinking the Contrast between Modernity and Postmodernity

The article shows that Habermas’s modernism and Lyotard’s postmodernism are not as antithetical as they are often taken to be. First, we argue that Habermas is not a strong foundationalist concerned with identifying universal rules for language, as postmodern critiques have often interpreted him. Instead, he develops a social pragmatics in which the communicative use of language is the fundamental presupposition of any meaningful interaction. Second, we argue that Lyotard is not a relativist who denies any universal linguistic structure. Instead, he claims that language involves a universal element of dissensus that cannot be subordinated to consensus. Third, we show that neither does Habermas defend a new version of the kind of philosophy of history characteristic of the Enlightenment, nor is Lyotard a historical relativist, but instead they both seek alternatives to these positions. The conclusion calls for more nuance in the interpretation of both perspectives.

Linguistic Interval as Spiritual Interplay: Przywara's “Dynamic Polarity” and Christian Language

AbstractThis article aims to reflect on how Erich Przywara's concept of the analogical “dynamic polarity” can contribute to contemporary discussions regarding the role of language in postmodern theology. By opposing Przywara to the philosophies of the likes of John Caputo and Jacques Derrida—in particular their concept of the khôra, and the former's “weak theology” —it intends to elucidate the possibility of an approach to language which remains in keeping with the Christian theological (and thus metaphysical) tradition whilst also engaging with standard postmodern criticisms typically leveled at it. Beginning with a prefatory examination of the themes of presence, absence, and distance as they appear in Christian theology and postmodernism, it then examines how the dynamic polarity may play a conciliatory role in harmonizing the two. It then continues to employ the dynamic polarity as a basis for various forms of language, arguing that it reveals an inherently relational, dialogic, and ultimately prayerful structure of receptivity, one which constitutes and emboldens difference, enlivening it as the theatre for a fruitful analogical interplay between self and other, cataphatic and apophatic, and more.

HISTORICISM AS A GENERAL SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLE IN A MODERN SOCIOLOGY OF SCIENCE

In the given article, the author tries to defi ne historicism as an eff ective scientifi c principle in the fi eld of humanities, namely in the modern sociology of science. Trying to solve this task, the author focuses his attention on the B. Latour and G. Harman’s discussion on the essence of material objects. Analyzing their positions, the author states that despite initially diff erent philosophical attitudes, both thinkers consider the subject of their research in a historicist way, that is, as dynamic and changeable in the course of the time. This way of thinking, in turn, forces them to solve their program tasks, using the instruments which were developed in the frame of classical historicist thought. So B. Latour chooses to use the historicist methodology and G. Harman, in turn, reproduces its specific ontology. Taking into consideration the results of the study and opinions of domestic and foreign researchers, the author concludes that despite the destructive criticism of postmodernism, historicism still remains a kind of organizing principle in humanities, which doesn’t only set the context of modern discussions, but also forms prospects for further development.