Habermas, on the contrary, develops a theory based on rational consensus, which opposes the positive position truth based upon scientific, empirical, objective observation, but which does not resort to the radical textuality of postmodernism where the text is understood as an openended, infinite process of disruptive signification. In order to distinguish these two, the characteristics of the current era are often referred to. In this book it explores science and technology, makes connections between these epistemic, cultural, and political trends, and develops profound insights into the nature of our postmodernity. How do we define knowledge in a postindustrial society equipped with new media, instantaneous communication technologies and universal access to information. From every direction we are being urged to putan end toexperimentation. Lyotard, education, and the problem of capitalism in the. I have decided to use the word postmodern to describe that condition. No field has grown faster than computer science and its corollary. Nowadays there is the growth of computerized systems. A report on knowledge theory and history of literature, volume 10 1st edition by jeanfrancois lyotard author visit amazons jeanfrancois lyotard page. Jeanfrancois lyotard is professor emeritus at the university of paris and professor of french at emory university. The postmodern explained university of minnesota press. Lyotard begins the postmodern condition by pointing out how the field of knowledge has changed in the years since world war ii. Lyotard and the postmodern condition 907 words 123 help me.
A report on knowledge 1979 came to be his bestknown and most referenced book for those seeking to define. In the spirit of freshness and as a way of providing what i hope is a unique angle on the philosophers abstract theory, below are quotes from the text along with my observations incorporating what i judge to be a nearperfect literary example of. Jeanfrancois lyotard 19241998 was a french philosopher whose best known workoften to his chagrinwas his 1979 the postmodern condition. But to the extent that science does not restrict itself to stating useful regularities and seeks the truth, it is obliged to legitimate the. Science has always been in conflict with narratives. I should like to make only a small number of observations, in order to point to and not at all to resolvesome problems surrounding the term postmodern. The postmodern condition a report on knowledge jean. The narrative function and the legitimation of knowledge 27 9. In the postindustrial and postmodern age, science will maintain and no doubt strengthen its preeminence in the arsenal of productive capacities of the. Judged by the yardstick of science, the majority of them prove to be fables. The postmodern condition by jeanfrancois lyotard, 9780719014505, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide.
The postmodern condition manchester university press. Click on a datetime to view the file as it appeared at that time. A report on knowledge 1979 a brief book, a small study, an occasional one that lyotard himself did not consider either important or a work of philosophy, the postmodern condition. According to lyotard during the last forty years the leading sciences and technologies have become increasingly concerned with language. A report on knowledge, considered by some to be the postmodern bible, was published in french in 1979. Finally, and closely related to this last, the postmodem condition presents us with significant method jlogical operations, which, although they draw on a whole very rich contem. Other articles where the postmodern condition is discussed. Jeanfrancois lyotards material has been highly influential in the development of postmodern thought. Postmodern condition by lyotard and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The postmodern condition work by lyotard britannica. The object of this study is the condition of knowledge in the most highly developed societies. This paper argues the lyotards the postmodern condition is to be interpreted as a response to nihilism, especially in relation to the question of the legitimation of knowledge and the socalled. So, this perhaps sums up the very idea of the book, the incredulity toward. Jean francois lyotard stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Lyotard here go straight to the section on the postmodern condition foucault here. Translated by regis durand this is a period ofslackeningi refer to the color ofthe times. As with all transformations in science, the computer age has resulted in a transformation of social. Postmodernism sometimes refers to the characteristics of contemporary society, and at other times to a theoretical approach that is a critique of the classical or modernist approaches. Finally, and closely related to this last, the postmodern condition presents us with significant methodological operations, which, although they draw on a whole very rich contem.
A report on knowledge is a 1979 book by the philosopher. The postmodern condition of knowledge in computerized. I define postmodern as an incredulity towards metanarratives. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on the postmodern condition. The postmodern condition tells a metanarrative about the demise of the metanarrative. Thus, lyotard is caught in exactly the trap in which he claims science is caught when it seeks to legitimate. In the postmodern condition jeanfrancois lyotard extends that analysis to postmodernism by looking at the status uf science, technology, and the arts, the significance of technocracy, and the way the flow of information and knowledge are controlled in the western world. Jeanfrancois lyotard, defining the postmodern modernism. Jeanfrancois lyotard s postmodernism and the contemporary world. Original file extensions are retained in the pdf file names.
The late jeanfrancois lyotard was professor of philosophy at the university of paris viii and professor of humanities at emory university. The condition of postmodernity autonomous learning. Written at the request of the council of universities of the provincial government of quebec on the state of knowledge in the contemporary world, this work brought the term postmodernism, already in use in other fields, such as the arts and. The first 5 chapters of main body of work are reproduced here. A report on knowledge jeanfrangois lyotard translation from the french by geoff bennington and brian massumi foreword by fredric jameson theory and history of literature, volume 10 university of minnesota press, minneapolis. This is a very useful resource detailed but accessible and describes the birth of modernism as well as postmodernism. Lyotard offers a critical account of the status of knowledge and education in. He was a key figure in the development of postmodernist philosophy.
Jeanfrancois lyotard 1979 the postmodern condition a report on knowledge. When power is that of capital and not that of a party, the transavantgardist or postmodern in jenckss sense solution proves to be better adapted than the antimodern solution. The postmodern condition university of minnesota press. The postmodern condition was important for a number of reasons. Metanarrative, legitimacy, the postindustrial age, power, knowledge, lyotard. Many definitions of postmodernism focus on its nature as the aftermath of the modern industrial age when technology.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The postmodem condition theory and history of literature. The postmodern explained is an engaging collection of letters addressed to young philosophers, including the actual children of some of lyotards colleagues, that inform the trajectory of his thinking in the period before the postmodern condition through the differend. David harvey keith woodward and john paul jones iii the experience of time and space has changed, the confidence in the association. However, what eventually transpired was a critically. Phrases in dispute 1989, heidegger and the jews 1990, political writings 1993, and postmodern fables 1997, all published by the university of minnesota press. In many circles, lyotard is celebrated as the postmodern theorist par excellence. Original digital files were selected and transferred by mark poster to uci libraries via a portable hard drive then converted to pdfa format by uci libraries staff for access and preservation. Beyond helping to define postmodernism, lyotard also analyzed the effect of postmodernism on the human condition.
1517 1158 643 37 18 731 787 584 1195 358 1415 1251 840 81 76 1522 1435 1494 433 1131 965 85 308 485 271 408 154 1511 1112 1116 1428 1198 776 275 523 1152 839 1377