Truth or Consequences: The Promise Perils of Postmodernism

by Millard J. Erickson

Book Overview

A 2002 Christianity Today Book of the Year

Postmodernism. The term slowly filtered into our vocabularies about three decades ago and now permeates most discussions of the humanities. Those who tout the promises and perils of this twentieth-century intellectual movement have filled many a bookshelf. And in a previous book, Postmodernizing the Faith: Evangelical Responses to the Challenge of Postmodernism, Millard J. Erickson provided...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830826572
• ISBN13: 9780830826575
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: IVP Academic
• Length: 335 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Hypermodern

This book is an analysis of postmodernism (or neo-pragmatism, post-Nietzschean philosophy or maybe just relativism) for those looking for a deeper understanding of the subject. Actually, since postmodernism doesn't have any clear sense, it is probably better to view this book as an introduction to Rorty, Derrida, Fish and Foucault (some might object that no clear sense can be found here either, but anyway). The book first details some of the main aspects of the premodern view, the view that the 'postmodernists' are spending their efforts to refute, or at lest blur many of the distinctions made by Plato and his type (appearance-reality, made-found, etc.). Following the history of western thought to the modern period (the next chapter of the book) the major thoughts of Descartes, Kant and Newton are discussed. The historical periods prior to the 'postmodern' take up about the first 100 pages and give anyone unfamiliar a good understanding of what is about to fall apart or be fuzzed up by the four horsemen that come on the scene next. Actually, the philosophical views held by Rorty and company where expounded prior to their coming - the chapter dealing with these men (the predecessors) is called 'twentieth-century transitions to postmodernism'. The cast of characters includes Heidegger, Wittgenstein, Gadamer and Kuhn. The book is as complete as one would hope and deals with other philosophers I failed to mention here -- but the main focus of the book is on the four most recent exponents of 'postmodernism' . Allot of the book, the first half or more, is solely descriptive with a critique coming in the next sections (if you believe such a distinction is possible). I would recommend this book (maybe not everything on Keirkegaard and some stuff about Derrida maybe) to anyone looking for a good intro. into the thoughts of Rorty Derrida, Fish and Foulcaut (postmodernism)-- although the book ends up being critical of much of what these men said it is a fair treatment.(if you believe such a thing is possible)