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Postmodernism and political philosophy

DOI
10.4324/9780415249126-S086-1
DOI: 10.4324/9780415249126-S086-1
Version: v1,  Published online: 1998
Retrieved March 29, 2024, from https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/postmodernism-and-political-philosophy/v-1

Article Summary

Just as there is much disagreement over both what is meant by ‘postmodernism’ and which thinkers fall under this rubric, so also is there disagreement over its implications for political philosophy. The claim of postmodernists that raises the most significant issues is that Western modernity’s fundamental moral and political concepts function in such a way as to marginalize, denigrate and discipline ‘others’; that is, categories of people who in some way are found not to measure up to prevailing criteria of rationality, normality and responsibility, and so on. The West’s generally self-congratulatory attitude towards liberal democracy and its traditions obscures this dynamic. Postmodernism aims to disrupt this attitude, and its proponents typically see their efforts as crucial to a radicalization of democracy.

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Citing this article:
White, Stephen K.. Postmodernism and political philosophy, 1998, doi:10.4324/9780415249126-S086-1. Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Taylor and Francis, https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/postmodernism-and-political-philosophy/v-1.
Copyright © 1998-2024 Routledge.

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