Doug Henwood writes on pomo: > A theoretical problem: if there is no truth, only provisional constructions > of truth, and if there is no master narrative, but only a polyphony of > local narratives and situated knowledges, than how can you criticize the > official (celebratory) version of history as "false"? > > Doug > > -- > > Doug Henwood > Left Business Observer > 250 W 85 St > New York NY 10024-3217 > USA > +1-212-874-4020 voice > +1-212-874-3137 fax > email: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > web: <http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html> > Response: Reductio ad absurdum: Exactly the way that you just attacked one of the implied conclusions of some pomo views. By pointing out the inherent contradictions, tautologies, logical fallacies, jaundiced prisms, contrived syllogisms constructed with contrived assumptions and contrived data gathered through contrived methodologies and data sources etc. To say that there will remain some "provisional constructions of truth" and a "polyphony of local narratives and situated knowledges" is not to suggest that they must therefore all be seen as all equally valid or even all closer to that elusive "absolute truth." Gradually through debate, cross-testing provisional hypotheses and data/data sources, paradigm/power shifts, old-timers dying etc etc some of the "constructions of truth" become patently untenable for all but the totally warped, some become less provisional and more established, some become the established orthodoxy until dialectically, the spiral process continues with the established orthodoxy under challenge, new and old constructions of truth emerging as provisional, some narratives remaining "local" while other local narratives become more generalized through linking up of people living under not-so-common conditions and forms of oppression and so on... None of this implies or rejects the notion of objective reality; many of the pomos deal with the epistemological vicissitudes, twists and turns, contending paradigms and the basis for those contending paradigms as we dance around, towards or away from some kind of objective reality or truth where their view does not necessarily reject some kind of notion of objective reality heavily filtered and obstructed of course by theological and "secular" filters, power structures and interests. Jim Craven *------------------------------------------------------------------* * James Craven * "The envelope is only defined--and * * Dept of Economics * expanded--by the test pilot who dares* * Clark College * to push it." * * 1800 E. McLoughlin Blvd. * (H.H. Craven Jr.(a gifted pilot) * * Vancouver, Wa. 98663 * * * (360) 992-2283 * "For those who have fought for it, * * [EMAIL PROTECTED] * freedom has a taste the protected * * * will never know." (Otto Von Bismark) * * * * * MY EMPLOYER HAS NO ASSOCIATION WITH MY PRIVATE/PROTECTED OPINION *
