Postmodern Thinking Research Articles

A painting you can eat: A dialogue between Dōgen and postmodern thinkers on nature and ecology

ABSTRACT Ecology is a major international issue of the present moment because the earth is threatened by forces beyond our control that have potential devastating consequences. This essay looks at the problem through the eyes of the Zen master Dðgen and selected postmodern philosophers. The difference between them is evident by Dðgen’s planful statement about eating a painting of a rice cake. Postmodernists perceives nature as a social construct connected to a representational mode of thinking that conflicts with the postmodern emphasis on difference, simulation, planes without depth and lack of unity. These postmodern tendencies of thinking are contrary to the philosophy of Dðgen, whose image of a painting of a rice cake can satisfy intellectual hunger and serves as a serious way to save the ecological system and overcome the representational mode of thinking.

Post-Modernism, Deconstruction of Christian Religious Education, and Cultural Projection in Central Kalimantan

The purpose of this research is to examine cultural participation in Central Kalimantan in the context of Christian education, whether as a curriculum, subject, or livelihood of Christian learning, in the midst of the postmodern wave. The aim is to explore postmodernist ideas in Christian education that are non-totalitarian, acknowledge the non-homogeneity of truth, and allow for diversity and freedom of thought. This research method prioritizes postmodernist thinking and culture in Christian religious education through a literature study. Secondary sources are taken from journal references (Scopus and Sinta) and several dissertations related to Christian education. The main sources for analysis are books by Karl Henri Nouwen, Franz-Magnis Suseno, Polanyi, and Jean-François Lyotard. The language used is clear, objective, and value-neutral, with a formal register and precise word choice. The logical structure ensures a clear and concise flow of information with causal connections between statements. The text is free from grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors. The text adheres to conventional structure and formatting features, with consistent citation and footnote style. No changes in content have been made. The results indicate that postmodernism, which rejects grand narratives and totalitarianism, as well as the omission of imperialism in Christian education, plays a role in the form of a living culture in Central Kalimantan. This culture emphasizes the balance of life, respect for creation, and the ritualistic and spiritual sacredness of religion, which are reflected in education, including Christian education

Research on the Development form of Chinese Contemporary Oil Painting in Recent 30 Years

This paper analyzes and discusses the development form of Chinese contemporary oil painting in the past 30 years, and thinks that in the past 30 years, after the baptism of Western cultural thoughts, postmodern thoughts have been deeply rooted in the hearts of Chinese people. Under this background, Western modern culture has brought rich topics to Chinese oil painting, and Chinese oil painting language is also transforming under the impact of Western artistic thoughts. This paper also summarizes the two aspects of Chinese contemporary art criticism during the period of 1990-2020. This paper holds that only by accurately grasping the characteristics of The Times and starting from the simple life can contemporary Chinese oil painting see the truth, goodness and beauty of art from life, and only by returning to the real "contemporary" can it absorb the essence from it and have enduring vitality.

Derrida's Postmodern Thought and Religious Education

Today the learners breathe in the atmosphere of postmodern thoughts. In this sense it is meaningful to deal with a postmodern thinker’s philosophy more closely. This work contributes to understand the learners’ intellectual environment deeply in the current postmodern society. Through this, educators can find the way to enrich learners’ epistemological and existential soil and can do this more appropriate way. In particular, Jacques Derrida's thoughts on deconstruction and <i>différance </i>offer profound insights for religious education in the postmodern era. In addition, his understanding of gift, forgiveness, and hospitality enriches the content of religious education and invites teachers and learners to a more responsible life, in that, for Derrida, responsibility connotes response ability. In this paper, I explore Derrida's thoughts on deconstruction, <i>différance</i>, gift, forgiveness, and hospitality. After investigating Derrida's thoughts, I present a framework for imagination-centered religious education that bridges between Derrida's thoughts and religious education. Here I propose three forms of imagination as the outline of imagination-centered religious education: constructive, empathetic, and visionary imagination. Finally, I revisit Derrida's thoughts from the perspective of the three imaginations and bring them into dialogue with one another. Through this I seek to enrich both Derrida's thoughts and religious education and to elicit helpful implications for religious education. The methods of this paper mostly rely on books and theses around the main issues. I hope that this study contributes to the nurturing of the next generation in the contemporary postmodern, globalizing, fourth industrial, and new normal era.

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.

Beyond modernity

This paper is about what we call “postmodern thinking” in Philosophy. For that, we highlight the philosophical perspective sent by some authors, due to the postmodern, moving towards the Cartesian concept of rationality, which helps us to situate the understanding of reason, in Modernity, and which is ‘rejected’ with the entry of the postmodern world. Following Descartes, with regard to the topic discussed here, the concept of modern reason is focused, as well as his understanding of the subject, precisely because of the understanding that modernity is distinguished – from other eras – by the relationship established between man and the reality that involves him. From this point onwards, the discussion takes place around the postmodern concept of rationality, considering the question of what would be the currently possible path for a reflection on human beings in their relationship with themselves, with others and with the world. In this direction, it is admitted to reflect on a philosophy that provides a solution to the problem of existence, and that does not conform to the understandings already known, insofar as it discusses the passage that the conception of rationality suffered from modernity to postmodernity.

Além da modernidade: Uma análise do pós-moderno na filosofia

This paper is about what we call “postmodern thinking” in Philosophy. For that, we highlight the philosophical perspective sent by some authors, due to the postmodern, moving towards the Cartesian concept of rationality, which helps us to situate the understanding of reason, in Modernity, and which is ‘rejected’ with the entry of the postmodern world. Following Descartes, with regard to the topic discussed here, the concept of modern reason is focused, as well as his understanding of the subject, precisely because of the understanding that modernity is distinguished – from other eras – by the relationship established between man and the reality that involves him. From this point onwards, the discussion takes place around the postmodern concept of rationality, considering the question of what would be the currently possible path for a reflection on human beings in their relationship with themselves, with others and with the world. In this direction, it is admitted to reflect on a philosophy that provides a solution to the problem of existence, and that does not conform to the understandings already known, insofar as it discusses the passage that the conception of rationality suffered from modernity to postmodernity.

ОБРАЗЫ ВТОРОЙ МИРОВОЙ ВОЙНЫ В СОВРЕМЕННОМ КИНО ЖАНРА ХОРРОР: КОДЫ КУЛЬТУРЫ

This article addresses the problem of contemporary European vision of the results of World War II through the prism of cinema, namely, a specific genre: horror. The images created in this genre by Norwegian and French directors are analyzed: Standartenführer, Germans, Soviet soldiers. The material is two relatively well-known films of the horror-comedy (black humor) subgenre («Operation "Dead Snow" (2009), «Operation "Dead Snow 2" (2014) (Norway) and the slasher «Underground Horror» (2022) (France, Belgium). The balance of power in these films, when the victory over zombies (German soldiers who have turned into the living dead) is won either by Europeans and Americans, or by representatives of national minorities, is, from the author’s point of view, the code of modern culture in the West, when the role of Soviet troops in the Victory over fascism is hushed up, when gays or representatives of national minorities act as heroes; when the Second World War becomes the subject of a comedy comprehension with an admixture of trash. Such a code differs significantly from the one that existed in literature and cinema of the immediate post-war period (in the second half of the 20th century), when living witnesses (war participants) were more numerous and moral values were somewhat different. This prism of artistic vision of the Second World War is justified by the nature of postmodern thinking and the demand for this kind of film production among Western viewers.

Edward Said and Philosophy

AbstractThis article brings to the forefront Timothy Brennan’s emphasis on Edward Said’s engagement with philosophy. An attempt is made to reconstruct some of Brennan’s claims about Said’s views on the relationship between mental representations and the external world. It is shown that Said rejected naïve or direct realism in favor of representationalism. It is also argued that, despite being seen as a post-modern thinker, Said subscribed to a version of the correspondence theory of truth. Said embraced some form of standpoint epistemology, but he did not think that this had any direct bearing on how we should think about what makes a given claim true. Finally, an attempt is made to understand the relationship between Said’s project and the classical Marxist project of ideology critique, as well as contemporary attempts to develop an epistemology of ignorance.

PHILOSOPHY FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATIONAL TURKISH TEACHING

Language functions, which are the central concept of communicative Turkish teaching today, constitute one of the main fields of study of language philosophy. Language functions have attracted the interest and curiosity of mankind since Ancient Greece. Ancient Greek philosophers, Enlightenment philosophers, Humboldt, logical positivists, Wittgenstein, Austin, Searle and postmodern thinkers come to the fore among those who explain their thoughts on language functions. The views of these thinkers in the history of philosophy are remarkable in terms of forming a theoretical basis for communicative Turkish teaching. In this context, in order to understand and evaluate the objectives, possibilities and limitations of communicative Turkish teaching, it is necessary to identify and discuss the views of major thinkers on the functions of language. Tracing the use of language in the history of philosophy is important in terms of revealing the philosophical foundations of communicative Turkish teaching. In this compilation study, it is aimed to present the philosophical foundations of communicative Turkish teaching for discussion. In the study, the views of Ancient Greek philosophers, Enlightenment philosophers, Humboldt, logical positivists, Wittgenstein, Austin, Searle and postmodern thinkers who discussed the functions of language were examined in a comparative way and interpreted in the context of functional/communicative Turkish teaching. Thus, it is aimed to draw attention to the natural connection between teaching Turkish and philosophy of language. In the study, it was commented that the theories developed by Wittgenstein, Austin and Searle are important in terms of communicative Turkish teaching.

A Dialogue between Curriculum Development and Postmodern Perspectives: A Context of Local Knowledge

This article provides insights into curriculum development from a postmodern perspective on the sustainability and usability of local or indigenous knowledge systems. This paper examines the western thoughts that potentially affect local and indigenous knowledge by analyzing interviews with scholars involved in higher education and explores how western thoughts affect the existing Nepalese school curriculum. Although western thought permeates and pervades our educational practices, the benefits go to them implicitly by subordinating us. There is an argument in the article that postmodern ideas have originated in the womb of western understanding; the ideas in this article are argued to be adaptable to our curriculum development. The rationale behind it is that our current curriculum thinking, from Tayler to Hlynka and Yeaman’s outline of key postmodern thinking, ignores the indigenous nature of knowledge systems, largely othering them as subordinate knowledge. It explores that the developed curriculum should represent unheard voices, ignored realities, and the histories and experiences of underrepresented groups. The authors conclude by suggesting that policies, plans, and programs should be adapted to reflect the underrepresented and unheard voices of the society.

THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR AND METAMODERN STRUCTURE OF FEELING

The study takes into the consideration the existing dynamic relationship between metamodernism and the Russia-Ukraine war. The article aims to draw the parallels between metamodern structure of feeling and the harsh reality of war in Ukraine. The author has summarized the conceptual foundations of metamodernism and its paradigmatic benchmarks such as historicity, affect, and depth. It has been argued that these markers of metamodernism, conceptualized by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker, have intensified in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war. In particular, the past and the narrative of a nation problematized by the postmodern thinkers are re-activated within the Russia-Ukraine war. They are necessary to tie the past with our present and our future as well as to join disconnected presents. Metamodern historicity compensates historical amnesia of postmodernism and gives grounds to imagine a historical moment. Affect as a metamodern intensity through which we articulate the emotional reactions and responses has gained new currency during the Russia-Ukrainian war. Thousands of Ukrainian refugees are receiving help and support from the governments of different countries and people across the world. This situation exemplifies a desire of metamodern subjectivity for a meaningful personal emotional experience and interconnectedness. It has been concluded that metamodern logic has been forged during the Russia-Ukraine war and metamodern touchstones (historicity, affect, and depth) are contextualized in the reality of the 21st-century barbaric bloodshed. Moreover, the Russia-Ukraine war has disclosed that the intellectual life under the postmodern negation of grand narratives, truth, tradition, center, and other categories led us to intellectual and practical dead ends. The clash of civilizations that we experience today confirms the end of postmodern skepticism and irony, fragmentation, and playfulness. The postmodern logic blocked out our ability to respond to the tragedies and deaths brought by the war. We need a metamodern return to emotionality and sincerity to heal the traumas of war.

A MORPHOLOGICAL READING OF J.K. ROWLING’S NOVELS USING PROPP’S NARRATIVE THEORY

Narratology study has been debate from scholars from myth to postmodern times. However, although postmodern thinkers put aside a set rule of narrative, yet in fact in there are found numerous generous amount of narrative by incorporating the world and the self. This research attemps at applying morphological perspective of Propp’s narrative functions in J.K. Rowling’s novels such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Using qualitative content analysis approach, this research was conducted by doing documentation, examination, and classification to obtain the relevant data. The result shows that there are identified 19 functions in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone which written using propp’s nomeclature symbols as βγ2δεη1θ1A14CDEG6J1K5ExI1↑, and then 21 functions in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets written in nomeclature symbols β2γδε2ζη3θA1aBCDEF5G3H2I2Rs1MNQ1, and 13 functions in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them written in nomeclature symbols αδ[η1η2η3]A13a3C[E7E8][F1F2F4F5F7]GH1I2[K2K5K6K7K10]Rs5Q3. In addition, J.K. Rowling’s novels which widely accepted as postmodern literary works are still relevant to Propp’s morphologic model of narrative functions approach. In short, Propp’s theory is applicable for the study of narrative not only for folktale but also other literary genres.

Narcissism in Postmodern Society

Freud’s theory on narcissism was developed in a society where the bourgeois had influential dominant power, so the analysis he proposed was in a cultural and historical atmosphere created by the upper class. Moreover, Christopher Lasch also mentioned his in influential book The Culture of Narcissism (1978) that narcissistic culture was taking place in a “late capitalism.” I intend to argue in this paper that Lasch’s narcissistic culture was embedded in a postmodern society, that is, “late capitalism” refers to postmodernism. Therefore, I employ the ideas postmodern thinkers such as Baudrillard, Georg Simmel, and Habermas to discuss how the characteristics of individuals living in postmodern society are similar to the characteristics of narcissists portrayed by Lasch. First, I elaborate on the issue of self-identity, followed by a discussion of narcissistic culture depicted by Lasch. Finally, I propose the contribution and critiques of Lasch’s discourse of development of narcissistic culture.

V. Buriak’s information intellectualism as a component of V. Zdoroveha’s journalistic skill concept

Introduction. The relevance of the research is conditioned by the need to holistically study the results for theoretical investigations by the well-known journalism theorists in terms of paradigm shifts in journalism and the transformation of “journalistic skills” definition which happened over the past decades. Against this background, a natural question arises as regards having a positive effect on an author’s creation, that enables developing the highest forms of the information and artistic expression and interpretation of a fact. According to V. Yo. Zdoroveha, such main characteristics of creativity as novelty, and the shattering of stereotypes should come out from journalists’ perception activities, and the movement of creative consciousness towards the new forms and methods of the reality interpretation. His concept was further extended by V. D. Buriak, who introduced the concept of “information intellectualism”, which made it possible to consider regular processes in terms of postmodern thinking. The purpose of the article is an attempt to recognize information intellectualism as a conscious and creative addition to the well-known concept of V. Zdorovega and one of the main criteria in assessing the level of professional skill of a journalist. Research methods. Using analysis (including a content analysis), synthesis, generalization, comparison, and other methods we specified the elements of journalistic creativity as a gradual path to journalistic skills in V. Yo. Zdoroveha and V. D. Buriak’s studies. In particular, by means of the comparison analysis we have identified patterns as regards the development of journalistic skills in the constant media environment; the synthesis method allowed us to combine several characteristics contributing to information intellectualism into one matrix; the generalization method we used to formulate general conclusions; we applied the logical, chronological, and historical methods to trace V. Yo. Zdoroveha’s concept transformation, taking into account V. D. Buriak’s scientific conclusions. Thanks to the above-mentioned methods, the author built a research algorithm, which provided for the consistent tracking of the transformation of the well-known concept of journalistic skill towards the intellectualization of the author’s consciousness, which is an absolute requirement of the time. At the same time, the prospect of further addition and expression of the conceptual foundations of journalistic work according to V. Zdrovega appeared. Conclusions and research perspectives. Journalistic skills as the highest manifestation of journalistic creativity should always be monitored by both scientists and editors, as well as by the entire journalistic community, because the journalistic skills were noted by V. Yo. Zdoroveha to be not only the movement of creative consciousness towards the new forms and methods of the reality interpretation, but the result of the active involvement in solving social problems. That is why information intellectualism, introduced by V. D. Buriak, as a manifestation of information and creative perception, should become the main evaluation criterion for creative journalistic activities. To become a true journalist, one should consistently combine the moral and civic qualities with the psychological and literary components, provided that a high-level information intellectualism in journalism is essential. Interpreting the views on journalistic activity like that, the author suggests considering V. Yo. Zdoroveha’s concept as the leading one for evaluating journalistic skills. V. D. Buriak widened the concept, completed it with new definitions and a new dimension. His concept of information polyphony, which is enriched with the advent of new media, can become an extension of the “creative consciousness” theory. The author also suggests that modern journalism can lean in that direction amid the rapid media transformation. The issues raised in this study still remain undetermined to evaluate the professional activities of bloggers, rewriters, copywriters, as well as new networks users.

Religion and Postmodernism

In this article, I discuss the implications of postmodernism on religious thought, with special reference to Islamic thought. Firstly, I discuss the nature and characteristics of postmodernist thinking, and the different schools of thought/’postmodernisms’ that fall under that rubric. My contention is that postmodernism is a response to modernism rather than religion, although it has implications on religious thought. Secondly, I examine and compare the points of contention between modernism and post-modernism. I then argue that the differences are largely due to the privileging of nature and reasoning of modernists and the privileging of human/social and psychology of postmodernists. These, in turn, have implications on their metaphysics and epistemology, respectively. Thirdly, I provide an Islamic perspective on the modernist-postmodernist discourse, showing that the Islamic perspective transcends the natural-social divide, and how the tripartite relationship between God, man and nature, informs the discourse. The philosophy of language is also brought up in the discussion, where I suggest that Islam accepts the dual role of languages, that is, conveying the meaning in its literal sense (aka modernist), as well as being a symbol and an indirect reference (aka postmodernist). Finally, a close comparison is made between postmodernism and Islam, where both their incompatibilities as well as possible points of convergence are discussed.

Nietzschean Roots in Foucault's Philosophy

This research discusses the Nietzschean roots of the philosophy of Michel Foucault, as - that is, Foucault - one of the most prominent pioneers of postmodern philosophy whose roots were laid by Friedrich Nietzsche. The research monitors the intersections between the philosophies of both Nietzsche and Foucault in an attempt to answer the basic research question about the Nietzschean roots in Foucault's philosophy, that is, what is the impact of Nietzsche on the formation of Foucault's philosophy? Through the following topics: (Between authority and power, knowledge and truth, striking the principle of the essential significance of words, genealogy and archeology, interpretation, madness, the death of man, the role of art, instinct and body, language and literature).
 The research confirms the radical relationship between Foucault's philosophy and Nietzsche's philosophy, as the latter originated from Foucault's thought and his philosophical propositions, and influenced a large number of postmodern thinkers and philosophers and their intellectual and philosophical proposals.

Embedded Cultural Patterns in Abu Firas Al-Hamadani’s Ra’iyyah: Arabic Poetry

This paper tackles the cultural patterns in Abu Firas Hamdani's captivity poetry, namely Ra’iyyah poem. The poet, who is normally a part of ideological, cultural, or social paradigms, represents and regenerates, consciously or unconsciously, the cultural patterns, especially those represented by his predecessors in their literary works, whether in prose or verse. Antonyms and displacement, and many other linguistic tools, allow a space for the poet to freely criticize, expose, and thus persuade authorities into setting him free. Undoubtedly, cultural criticism, a product of postmodern thoughts, is one of the prominent trends in the world of literary criticism, and it places the focus on culture as a platform from which the authors express their status and agenda. The embedded cultural patterns that are traced in Abu Firas’ poetry are divided into three major themes, based on the suggested cultural patterns as elaborated in the current study.

Emergent Strategy in Higher Education: Postmodern Digital and the Future?

Mintzberg’s version of emergent strategy is based on the idea that strategies are contingent on circumstances that change from time to time often very rapidly and therefore papers focused on strategy and detailed planning are limited in their practical application. The word strategy as far as Mintzberg is concerned is anathema, therefore, introducing a concept that has a misconception embedded in it. This paper claims that education for sustainable development and higher education institutions’ survival depends on adopting postmodern thinking, in other words, digital transformation. This conceptual paper proposes a blueprint of a process for developing a series of agile potentially short-term conceptual solutions thereby embracing the expectation that the rate of change in societies is accelerating. This paper scrutinizes (a) the applicability of emergent strategy/strategic approach to higher education institutions, (b) how postmodernism influences higher education institutions to become digital hubs of commoditization of knowledge and (c) how the integrated capabilities of digital transformation build sustainability in education delivery. Structural Equation Methodology is proposed to examine the impact of postmodernism on the sustainable delivery of education in higher education institutions, and the need to foster relevant emergent strategies is also justified. The paper also develops new research propositions and managerial implications for driving optimistic digital education. Ultimately, it offers a framework for spear-leading effective and leading post-modernistic digital transformation. Emerging education technology, sustainable digital transformation and advanced use of robotic-human cognitive collaboration are experiencing a significant transformation. Universities play a vital role in enhancing engagement within higher education. One of the managerial implications of the results and discussion is the need for higher education institutions to provide taught leadership and planning in emergent strategy formulation and implementation. The findings confirm the significant importance of linking the Structural Equation Method and the postmodern strategic context in which we argue that higher education institutions require emerging rethinking.

A Study of Relativistic Theory of Ethics in the Light of Islamic Theory of Morality

Every civilization has a system of ethics that defines their values and morality. The basic concepts of "Good" and "Evil" are also derived from that system. This system of ethics gains its inspiration from the world view of that particular civilization. Islam, like all other religions, also give a complete moral code for its believers. Qur’ān and the Sunnah here is the only criterion for determining the basic principles of the Ethics of Islam and hence morality in Islam is objective as well as absolute. In the post-modern world however, the morality and value system that got endorsed by Postmodernist thinkers is relative and subjective instead of absolute and objective. Morality here is largely considered as relative as well as subjective and hence vary with change in time and space. It can also undergo through evolution and no act or concept can be judged here on some absolute criterion. This “Relativism” and “Subjectivism” potentially challenge all the traditional schools of ethics. This paper would study whether this relativistic theory of ethics have any compatibility with Islamic fundamentals regarding ethics. This research paper is based on descriptive method along with primordial focus on Moral Relativism.
 Keywords: Epistemology, Islamic value system, Meta-narratives, Moral relativism, Postmodernism, pluralism