CWT301: Exploring Modernity, Postmodernity, Philosophy, Science, Time, Space PT. 1

Critical Wade Theory

Segment 1: Understanding Modernity

• Define modernity: An era characterized by a reliance on reason, scientific progress, the rejection of some so-called “traditional values,” and the pursuit of objective truth.

• Kant’s influence: In his "Critique of Practical Reason," Kant argues that morality, rules, and human actions are governed by the Categorical Imperative—a principle demanding that actions be universally applicable. "Kant defines categorical imperatives as commands or moral laws all persons must follow, regardless of their desires or extenuating circumstances." Columbia University, Categorical Imperatives and the Case for Deception: Part I: https://www.tc.columbia.edu/institutional-review-board/irb-blog/2020/categorical-imperatives-and-the-case-for-deception-part-i/#:~:text=As%20outlined%20in%20the%20video,their%20desires%20or%20extenuating%20circumstances.

• Define postmodernity: A reaction to modernity, emphasizing freedom of choice, self-determination, responsibility, equanimity, and flexibility.

• Discuss how postmodernism questions the narratives of objective truth and embraces pluralism.

Immanuel Kant's philosophy does clash with postmodernism in several key ways:

1. Epistemology: Kant's critical philosophy is rooted in the belief that there are objective structures of knowledge that are universally applicable. He posits that the human mind has inherent categories and forms of intuition (such as space and time) that shape our experiences and knowledge. In contrast, postmodernism often questions the existence of any universal truths or structures, emphasizing the relativity and context-dependence of knowledge. Postmodern thinkers like Michel Foucault and Jacques Derrida argue that knowledge is constructed through power dynamics and language, and there are no fixed truths.

2. Metaphysics: Kant introduces the idea of the noumenon (the thing-in-itself) which exists beyond human perception and understanding. He claims that we can never know the noumenon directly but only the phenomena (the world as we experience it). Postmodernism, on the other hand, is often skeptical of such metaphysical distinctions, focusing instead on the ways in which reality is constructed through language, discourse, and social practices. The notion of an inaccessible "thing-in-itself" is often viewed as another grand narrative to be deconstructed.

3. Ethics: Kant's moral philosophy is grounded in the concept of the categorical imperative, which asserts that there are absolute, universal moral laws derived from reason. Postmodernism typically rejects the idea of universal moral principles, favoring instead a more relativistic or context-specific approach to ethics. Postmodern ethics often emphasize the fluidity and contingency of moral values, arguing that they are shaped by cultural, historical, and social contexts.

4. Aesthetics: Kant's aesthetics are based on the idea of universal judgments of beauty and the disinterested pleasure derived from contemplating art. Postmodern aesthetics, however, challenge the notion of universal beauty and the disinterested viewer, highlighting the role of cultural and ideological influences in shaping our perceptions of art. Postmodern art often blurs the boundaries between high and low culture, embracing pluralism and challenging traditional notions of aesthetic value.

Kant's philosophy, with its emphasis on universal structures of knowledge, absolute moral principles, and metaphysical distinctions, stands in stark contrast to the relativism, skepticism, and deconstruction characteristic of postmodern thought.

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