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Philosophy Talk: Is Postmodernism Really to Blame for Post-Truth?

Did postmodernism simply predict cynicism about the facts, or did it actually promote it?

Postmodernism is often characterized by its rejection of concepts championed by the Enlightenment, like meaning, truth, reason, and knowledge. Some philosophers blame postmodernism for making cynicism about truth and facts now respectable in political debate. So is postmodernism responsible for “fake news” and “alternative facts”? Or does it simply provide the tools to describe popular distrust of traditional authorities, like science and the media? Must we reject postmodernism in order to rescue truth? Josh and Ken find trust in Thomas de Zengotita, author of Postmodern Theory and Progressive Politics: Toward a New Humanism.

Join the conversation LIVE this Sunday 7/14 at 11 am by calling 1-800-525-9917, or catch the re-broadcast Tuesday 7/16 at 12 noon.