This book examines the concept of post-truth and the impact it is having on contemporary life, bringing out both its philosophical and political dimensions. Post-truth is contextualised within the philosophical discourse of truth, with particular reference to theories of scepticism and relativism, to explore whether it can take advantage of these to claim any intellectual credibility. Sim argues that post-truth cannot be defended on either sceptical or relativistic grounds – even those provided by recent iconoclastic philosophical movements such as poststructuralism (...) and postmodernism. The affinity between post-truth and conspiracy theory is emphasised, and the extent to which post-truth plays a role in religious doctrine is also considered. Post-truth is seen to constitute a threat to liberal democratic ideals and our Enlightenment heritage, raising the question of whether we are moving into a post-liberal age where the far right would hold power. To prevent this, post-truth urgently needs to be countered. (shrink)

The first dictionary dedicated to the work of Jean-Francois Lyotard. Drawing on a multidisciplinary team of experts, the 168 entries in The Lyotard Dictionary explain all of his main concepts, contextualising these within his work as a whole and relating him to his contemporaries. * 118 entries cover all of Lyotard's concepts and concerns, from 'Addressee' and 'Aesthetics', through 'I don't know what' and 'Is it happening?' to 'Unpresentable' and 'Writing' * A further 50 'linking' entries contextualise Lyotard within the (...) wider intellectual currents of his time, from concepts such as Nazism and Memory to thinkers from Aristotle to Jean BaudrillardJean-Francois Lyotard's postmodern thought is massively influential across a host of academic disciplines, from philosophy and the social sciences through to literary, media, and cultural studies. (shrink)

The objective of this introductory chapter is to demonstrate the increasing relevance of Jean-Paul Sartre’s existentialist philosophy to the contemporary socio-political landscape. The focus will be on Sartre’s early novel Nausea, which will be utilised to address pressing issues in our culture such as political authoritarianism, climate change, and the uncritical belief that lies behind these fuelling conspiracy theories as it goes. That the growing influence wielded by the far right represents a major threat to Western democracy will be a (...) central theme overall, and nausea seems an entirely appropriate reaction to this very worrying development. Sartre’s main philosophical concepts, such as bad faith and authenticity (as outlined in works such as Being and Nothingness), will constitute a major point of reference for the book’s arguments, and he will be identified as a fellow-traveller for our troubled times. (shrink)

This book traces the crystallisation of post-Marxism as a specific theoretical position in its own right and considers the role played in its development by post-structuralism, postmodernism and second-wave feminism. It examines the history of dissenting tendencies within the Marxist tradition and considers what the future prospects of post-Marxism are likely to be.

Stuart Sim explores how Lyotard's brand of pragmatism can provide a focus for political theory and action in our cultural climate, especially in light of the dramatic resurgence of right-wing extremism.

This is the first source-book for this cross-disciplinary area. It takes students through a wide range of readings from philosophy, politics, and sociology, to human geography, international relations, and feminist studies. Bringing together statements from leading twentieth-century thinkers such as Derrida, Lyotard, Baudrillard, and Laclau and Mouffe, and with the editor's substantial introduction, this is an ideal teaching text, inspiring debate about the future of Marxism as a cultural theory.

Challenges all forms of fundamentalism and unexamined belief systems from a philosophical and sceptical viewpoint. Is unquestioning belief making a global comeback? The growth of religious fundamentalism seems to suggest so. For the sceptically minded, this is a deeply worrying trend, not just confined to religion. Political, economic, and scientific theories can demand the same unquestioning obedience from the general public. Stuart Sim outlines the history of scepticism in both the Western and Islamic cultural traditions, and from the Enlightenment to (...) postmodernism. Setting out what a sceptical politics might be like, Empires of Belief argues that we need less belief and more doubt: an engaged scepticism to replace the pervasive dogmatism that threatens our democracies. (shrink)

The detrimental effect that universal theories (or, theories of everything) have on geopolitics is the topic of this chapter. Their tendency to substitute faith for reason is criticised, as it represents a threat to the democratic ethos, privileging dogmatism over debate. Conspiracy theory is seen to involve a similar mind-set and therefore to hold dangers for democracy as well. Marxism is taken to be a classic example of a universal theory, and Jean-Paul Sartre’s critical response to it over his career (...) is discussed, as in his critique of communism in What Is Literature? The impact of universal theories in religion (monotheisms, for example) and science (where a Grand Unified Theory of physics is an ongoing project amongst the community), is also investigated. The turn against universal theories in philosophy in recent decades (as in the case of Marxism), is considered in the concluding section. (shrink)

Climate crisis, plus the arguments around it, is investigated in this chapter, as is the generally very weak response to this all-important issue by most governments. The fossil-fuel industry is criticised for its denial of the problem its product is causing, and its obsession with gaining the most profit it can at the expense of any environmental concerns. Bad faith is much in evidence in the corporate response to climate crisis, as it is in the political, which heavily prioritises economic (...) growth over environmental considerations when it comes to electioneering. Existentialism is argued to promote a ‘collective conscience’ against market-driven choices, such as the use of private cars rather than mass public transport, and to encourage us to develop a less consumerist culture than is currently the case. The need for more authenticity in the public response to climate crisis is emphasised. (shrink)

Post-liberalism is a term which come in for a lot of attention recently, and its exact nature as a concept has been the subject of much debate. Since this book has been defending liberal democracy (again, interpreted in a broad sense), the relationship between it and post-liberalism needs to be addressed. The chapter concedes that liberal democracy requires reform, but questions whether that means it should become post-liberal in the far right’s conception of the notion, which is more like ‘illiberalism’ (...) than an extension of the liberal ethos as currently understood. Illiberalism is very much tied up with the post-truth movement, and at that point the threat post-truth poses to liberal democratic ideals becomes very apparent. John Gray’s work on both liberalism and post-liberalism is discussed, and his belief in the virtue of a ‘postmodern liberal conservatism’ to prevent the spread of illiberalism considered. (shrink)

Postmodernism and poststructuralism are both relativist in orientation, and face the same problem as philosophical sceptics in general: how to justify value judgements. This comes through strongly in the work of Jean-François Lyotard and Jacques Derrida, whose work is compared here to see how each deals with the issue, and what this might reveal about the claims of post-truthers. Postmodernist-poststructuralist thought is often accused of an extreme relativism, and this might be taken to imply that post-truth is difficult to critique (...) if there is no absolute concept of truth to fall back on. Derrida’s deconstruction seems to preclude making value judgements, whereas Lyotard’s overtly political outlook demands that he confront this problem to find pragmatic ways around it. He argues that it is possible to have a ‘relative certainty’ as regards truth, and that one should therefore continue to make value judgements – particularly in matters concerning ethics. (shrink)

The introductory chapter argues that post-truth has become a spectre haunting the twenty-first century, given the toxic atmosphere it has created in contemporary political life and the public realm in general. It establishes that the book’s overall aim is to present a defence of truth, as well as liberal democratic ideals (interpreting these in broad terms), in order to counter the drift into demagoguery that we are currently experiencing. This defence will be contextualised within the debate on truth in philosophical (...) history, with particular reference to the theory of scepticism and its concept of truth as relativistic. The problem that philosophical scepticism sets for such a project as this is outlined briefly, prior to being explored in greater detail at various later points of the book. (shrink)

Postmodernism is an important part of the cultural landscape which continues to evolve, yet the ideas and theories surrounding the subject can be diverse and difficult to understand. Fifty Postmodern Thinkers critically examines the work of fifty of the most important theorists within the postmodern movement who have defined and shaped the field, bringing together their key ideas in an accessible format.

Philosophers from classical times onwards have debated the nature of truth and whether it should be defined as absolute or relative. If truth is relative, then the problem arises as to how we can ever justify our value judgements. The arguments put forward for relativism by philosophical sceptics are discussed here, to see whether these make it difficult to judge the claims of the post-truth camp. Various theories of truth are examined, with Bayesian analysis, which deals in probabilities instead of (...) truths, being suggested as a way of making value judgements even in the absence of any absolute concept of truth. Bayesian analysis is a matter of ‘informed guessing’, and fuzzy logic works in a similar manner. The conclusion to be drawn is that truth is a matter of evidence rather than logical deduction, and that post-truth will always be unconvincing on that score. (shrink)

Contemporary continental philosophy is a widely used but in many ways problematic term, and its exact frame of reference is not always clear. In French manifestations in particular, it continues to arouse considerable controversy and create bitter divisions, with especially hostile reactions to the work of Derrida and others. Much work in the recent continental tradition can be fitted into a longer-running philosophical tradition of scepticism and scepticism has always had the power to provoke and unsettle the philosophical establishment.

This text presents a comprehensive survey of the intellectual developments that have brought about a shift in cultural perspectives of postmodernism. It is divided into three sections: essays; biographical entries; and a glossary of terms.

Postmodernism, its history and cultural context -- Postmodernism and philosophy / Stuart Sim -- Postmodernism and politics / Iain Hamilton Grant -- Postmodernism and feminism / Sue Thornham -- Postmodernism and lifestyles / Nigel Watson -- Postmodernism and religion / Pamela Sue Anderson -- Postmodernism and the postcolonial world / Eleanor Byrne -- Postmodernism and science and technology / Iain Hamilton Grant -- Postmodernism and architecture / Diane Morgan -- Postmodernism and art / Colin Trodd -- Postmodernism and cinema / (...) Val Hill -- Postmodernism and television / Marc O'Day -- Postmodernism and fiction / Barry Lewis -- Postmodernism and music / Derek B. Scott -- Postmodernism and popular culture / John Storey -- Postmodernism, modernity and the tradition of dissent / Lloyd Spencer -- Names and terms. (shrink)

The rise of demagoguery around the world in recent years represents a regression from the Enlightenment ideals on which modern society has been constructed. Demagogues make extensive use of post-truth techniques to appeal to the public’s prejudices, and that means that post-truth must be countered more actively than ever if democracy is not to ‘die’, as some commentators have warned can happen. The chapter makes the case for greater emphasis on fact-checking of news reports, looking at the efforts already made (...) in that direction by such organisations as ‘The Centre for Library Literacy’ and ‘Libraries Transform’ in the USA, as well as programmes that have been developed to assess truth-content, such as the ‘CRAAP Test’. Greater control of social media, with legislation at governmental level to back this up, is also urgently required to limit the spread of fake news. (shrink)

The extent to which religion is structured on post-truth principles forms the subject of this chapter, which looks at how this works within Christianity and Islam. Creationism, for example, refuses to accept the findings of modern science, holding fast to a dogmatic belief in the literal truth of the Bible. Religious philosophers, such as Anselm of Canterbury, construct proofs for the existence of God which can only end in a positive conclusion; theological doctrine demands this. Recent attempts, as in the (...) work of John Caputo, to apply postmodern thought to theology are analysed, and the postmodern philosopher Jean-François Lyotard’s arguments for adopting a pagan attitude to belief are also looked at in this context. The chapter concludes that religious belief, as in all instances where post-truth is being deployed, is best met with scepticism and doubt. (shrink)

Fiction could be seen as a form of post-truth in that it wants to persuade us to treat the narrative it presents as if it were real. That has led to criticism down the ages, and authors have often felt the need to defend themselves of the charge of misleading the public. John Bunyan, for example, answered critics of The Pilgrim’s Progress by asserting that it contained ‘Truth within a Fable’, and this chapter weighs up the arguments for this notion. (...) It claims that fiction generally has good intentions, and that this differentiates it from the divisive tactics of post-truthers on the far right politically. Richard Rorty’s defence of literature as a source of useful knowledge that can affect our moral development, provides useful support for Bunyan’s view, from a philosopher who takes a very pragmatic approach to truth and the issue of relativism. (shrink)

The socio-political background to the publication of Jean-Paul Sartre’s Nausea in the late 1930s, and the extent to which this prefigures the rise of authoritarianism in our own day, is discussed in this chapter. The lack of authenticity in contemporary political life is explored (and deplored), as well as the worrying increase in the influence of the far right on democratic processes internationally. It is argued that this is a trend which has to be challenged wherever it can be by (...) supporters of democracy. Sartre’s concept of bad faith, and its application to current ideological conflicts, is analysed in detail, particularly the way it has become standard practice in many Western democracies as well as in the world’s various autocracies. The implications of world powers like America becoming progressively more right wing in their policies is also discussed, and the need for this to be carefully monitored is emphasised. (shrink)

We need to understand how post-truth works, and its insidious role in human relations, so Chapter 2 begins the process with a survey of what the landscape of post-truth currently looks like, and the effect it is having on key areas of human affairs. The nature of the post-truth mentality is explored, emphasising its dogmatic character and bias towards prejudice; as well as its commitment to what has been called a ‘politics of againstness’, which foments social division. It can be (...) seen at work in the actions of such prominent public figures as President Trump and his dismissal of all criticism as ‘fake news’. The fake news industry and the influence this is exerting on international politics is discussed, as is the difficulty in pinning down exactly how to define fake news or post-truth such that action can be taken against them. (shrink)

Post-truth also has a pre-history, and this chapter looks at some selected examples of this in terms of government-generated propaganda, as well as such notorious publications as the ‘Zinoviev Letter’ and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. The latter two texts are prime cases of conspiracy theory in action, and the post-truth element in this is explored, as well as the adverse impact it can have on political life. The Protocols in particular have been used to whip up antisemitic (...) feelings over the course of the twentieth century, and still attract followers into our own day. Reference is made to Umberto Eco’s novel The Prague Cemetery, which speculates how a text such as this could come into being and find such support. Post-truth tendencies within Soviet communism are also considered. (shrink)

One. The Glass is Always Half-full? Countering the Optimists - Two. The `Doomsday Clock' is Always with Us: Pessimism in History - Three. Optimists v. Pessimists: Economics and Politics - Four. I Think, Therefore I Expect the Worst: Pessimism in Philosophy - Five. A World Without Meaning: Pessimism in Literary Fiction - Six. Visions of Despair: Pessimism in the Arts - Seven. The Benefits of a Half-empty Glass: Pessimism as a Lifestyle.

This concluding chapter adopts a rather despairing attitude to our current socio-political situation, and how we have collectively allowed it to develop to a point where it so closely resembles the chaotic state of the late 1930s. Democracy is clearly under threat when authoritarianism is so very much in the ascendancy, exploiting the many flashpoints that the geopolitical landscape is constantly generating. A ‘positive pessimism’ is advocated in response, taking a more realistic, existentialism-influenced, attitude to our plight and how to (...) cope with it in the face of adversity. The far more negatively oriented pessimism found in John Gray’s recent book The New Leviathans is critiqued and held to be seriously wanting as an analysis of the international political scene. The value of existentialism in making sense of a world where authoritarians, climate change sceptics and conspiracists are creating such a toxic atmosphere in public life is re-emphasised. (shrink)

Jacques Derrida, Jean-Francois Lyotard, Jean Baudrillard and Geoffrey Hartman all claim to have found a way to transcend value judgment. This book confronts these assertions and argues that tinkers such as these have, by their rejection of conventional methods of constructing value judgments, succeeded in problematizing the entire area of aesthetics. Stuart Sim treats posttructuralism and postmodernism as forms of anti-aesthetics and contextualises the movements within a longer-running tradition of anti-foundationalism and radical skepticism in Western philosophy. Arguing from a broadly (...) socialist, historical materialist position he demands that discourses be made to declare their ideological commitments. While the radical skepticism of Derrida, Lyotard, Baudrillard, and their followers is shown to be ultimately philosophically unsustainable and ideologically suspect form a left-wing point of view, Sim concludes that these critics nevertheless point to a need for reassessment of methods and objectives among critical theorists on the left. (shrink)

Celebrated by some, abused by others, Derrida is the most discussed philosopher at the end of this century.

"Philosopher, critic, literary and political theorist, Marxist scholar and communist party activist, Georg Lukacs is a towering figure in the history of Marxism, but one whose work presents us with special problems in the late twentieth century. Although recognised as one of the founders of what has become known as 'Western Marxism', Lukacs was associated for much of his life with the more doctrinaire, and nowadays discredited, Eastern European Marxist tradition. Lukacs was also to the end of his career a (...) staunch defender of 'realism' in aesthetic matters and a bitter critic of modernism who attacked such modernist icons as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Franz Kafka and Bertolt Brecht for their ideological failings." "While the commitment to realism can make Lukacs seem old-fashioned the advent of postmodernism and its radical problematisation of modernist aesthetics has led to a revival of interest in Lukacs' work. Lukacs has become a test case as to whether anything can be saved from Marxism as a political force. Written from the standpoint of a post-Marxist, postmodernist culture, this study positions Lukacs' theoretical writings with respect to recent debates in Marxism and postmodernism in order to establish his lasting importance as a theorist. There are chapters on Lukacs' major works on realism (The Historical Novel, Studies in European Realism, and The Meaning of Contemporary Realism, for example), as well as on Lukacs' contributions to Marxist philosophy and political theory. The Brecht-Lukacs debate is considered beside Lukacs' critical legacy."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. (shrink)

This book is designed to trace the critical history of the postmodern paradigm.

This book explores the relevance of Sartrean existentialism to the contemporary socio-political landscape, with particular reference to his early novel Nausea and the concepts of bad faith and authenticity outlined in his major philosophical work Being and Nothingness. In an era where political authoritarianism has asserted itself so powerfully internationally and climate crisis has revealed the shortcomings of the political class so sharply, Stuart Sim argues that existentialism has much to offer as a worldview in addressing such issues. The sense (...) of a world order falling apart connects us strongly to Sartre's situation in the Europe of the 1930s and 40s, when fascism was in the ascendant and human rights under severe threat as a direct consequence. To read Sartre's work through these phenomena is to realise the renewed importance of key existentialist concepts to the current geopolitical situation. (shrink)

In this new study the authors examine a range of theories about the state of nature in seventeenth- and eighteenth-century England, considering the contribution they made to the period's discourse on sovereignty and their impact on literary activity. Texts examined include Leviathan, Oceana, Paradise Lost, Discourses Concerning Government, Two Treatises on Government, Don Sebastian, Oronooko, The New Atalantis, Robinson Crusoe, Dissertation upon Parties, David Simple, and Tom Jones. The state of nature is identified as an important organizing principle for narratives (...) in the century running from the Civil War through to the second Jacobite Rebellion, and as a way of situating the author within either a reactionary or a radical political tradition. The Discourse of Sovereignty provides an exciting new perspective on the intellectual history of this fascinating period. (shrink)

"The Routledge Critical Dictionary of Postmodern Thought constitutes an authoritative, yet truly readable guide to the complexity of postmodernism. This resource contains in-depth essays grouped by subject along with an A-Z list of key words and biographical entries. The contributors trace the impact of postmodern thought in their respective fields, which range throughout the arts, social sciences, politics, science and technology, popular culture, the media, and feminism."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved.