INSTRUCTOR: Eileen Wade, Ed.D. POSTMODERNISM 3-1

AGENDA CHAPTER 8 Defining Postmodernism Situating Postmodernism Why Study Postmodernism? Postmodernism as a Philosophy of Education -Metaphysics -Epistemology -Axiology -Logic Postmodernism’s Educational Implications

Defining Postmodernism To define postmodernism, we need to examine the words, post and modernism. As a prefix, post means coming after, later, or following in time. So the obvious meaning in this context is after or following the modern period of history. In Western history, the modern period’s onset is usually cited as beginning with the coming of the Renaissance around 1500 A.D. and then continuing onward. 1-3

Situating Postmodernism Postmodernism is an orientation or perspective. As an orientation, it includes individuals whose parents field are sociology, anthropology, literature, art, architecture, and education, as well as philosophy. 1-4

Why Study Postmodernism? Postmodernism is one of the leading contemporary philosophical orientations. It is especially influential in academic fields such as literary criticism and educational foundations. 1-5

Postmodernism as a Philosophy of Education Metaphysics – Postmodernists reject the grand philosophical systems purported to explain reality as an architecture of the universe, and the metaphysical assumption that an ultimate ground of being, a transcendent cosmic reality, exists above and beyond the physical world. 1-6

Postmodernism as a Philosophy of Education Epistemology – Postmodernism argues against traditional philosophies’ epistemological claims that we know objects as they correspond to reality. Postmodernists suggest that rather than looking outside of the human experience and history for truth, they advise us to look within the human past and present to see how claims to truth have originated, been constructed and expressed. 1-7

Postmodernism as a Philosophy of Education Axiology – The postmodernists rejection of metaphysical systems and the analytical tools they use examine the language of dominant and suppressed groups reveal much about their views of ethics and aesthetics. Postmodernists reject the Idealist, Realist, and Thomist metaphysical claims that there are universal and eternal values that prescribe and proscribe ethical and moral actions. 1-8

Postmodernism as a Philosophy of Education Logic – In terms of logic, Postmodernists advise that we take a careful look at what is stated to be logical or illogical. For example, the general premise that “a woman, by her nature, is to be a wife and mother” leads to a conclusion that it is illogical for a right-thinking woman to choose to be something other than a wife and mother. 1-9

Postmodernism’s Educational Implications Postmodernism is highly suspicious of metanarratives in education, especially the so-called great works of Aristotle, Plato, Aquinas, Rousseau, Pestalozzi and others who purport to speak in a universal voice for educational goals and purposes. 1-10

SUMMARY CHAPTER 8 Defining Postmodernism Situating Postmodernism Why Study Postmodernism? Postmodernism as a Philosophy of Education -Metaphysics -Epistemology -Axiology -Logic Postmodernism’s Educational Implications