Can we ever say that we absolutely know something is true? And what is truth anyway? These nagging questions are hallmarks of the postmodern era and greatly impact how 21st-century people live their lives. In this course, we’ll examine the claims of postmodern thought and discuss its impact on contemporary conceptions of the good life. In particular, we’ll focus on the impact of postmodernism on the public sphere and liberal education, including the phenomenon of identity politics and cancel culture. We’ll also discuss how religious cultures may react to the questions raised by postmodernism and utilize it as a way to react to the challenges of modernity.
Dr. R.J. Snell
Dr. R.J. Snell is Editor-in-Chief of Public Discourse and Director of Academic Programs at the Witherspoon Institute. Previously, he was for many years Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Philosophy Program at Eastern University and the Templeton Honors College, where he founded and directed the Agora Institute for Civic Virtue and the Common Good. He earned his MA in philosophy at Boston College, and his PhD in philosophy at Marquette University. His research interests include the liberal arts, ethics, natural law theory, Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic intellectual tradition, and the work of Bernard Lonergan.