Critical Conditions Postmodernity and the Question of Foundations [Paperback]

An examination and revaluation of contemporary theories about the foundations of knowledge and meaning, first published in 1994.Examining the history of foundationism, and providing a detailed analysis of the work of leading theorists including Fish, Foucault, Derrida, Gadamer and Habermas, this study argues for a less reductive and arbitrary conception of knowledge and meaning.Examining the history of foundationism, and providing a detailed analysis of the work of leading theorists including Fish, Foucault, Derrida, Gadamer and Habermas, this study argues for a less reductive and arbitrary conception of knowledge and meaning.The postmodern debate has been heavily influenced by often contradictory conclusions about the foundations of knowledge. Horace Fairlamb contends that philosophy's foundationist quest has usually been misconceived as a choice between super-science and theoretical anarchy. Examining the history of foundationism, and providing detailed analysis of the work of leading theorists, including Fish, Foucault, Derrida, Gadamer and Habermas, Dr. Fairlamb argues for a less reductive and less arbitrary conception of knowledge and meaning. The result is an important contribution to the current reevaluation of theoretical discourse.Introduction; 1. Fish's strong conventions: the mind's own world; 2. Brave new words: postmoderism on epistemology; 3. Theory and/or deconstruction: Derrida slippage; 4. Gadamer's universalism: the limits of hermeneutic authority; 5. Critical politics: deconstruction for Americans; 6. Foucault's microphysical politics: big brother is missing; 7. Habermas' neo-formalism: theory as praxis; 8. Critical theory and postmodern localism: rebels without a cause; Conclusion.