What shall we call it?

The End.

Reconstructionism

One of my favorite words: antidisestablishmentarianism. Something done in this way would be done antidisestablishmentarianistically.

Dr. Veith, you wrote a book about it over 10 years ago.

FW: whew. You want to call the new age, realistically, the Age of the Rule of Law?

I understand and sympathize with your desires. But it isn’t a clear reading of the departing age or the one to come to think we’re headed toward more orderliness, not less. How would an age of the rule of law logically progress out of a postmodern age? Or out of an education system that trumps self-esteem over either logic or law? Or is the new age going to be defined by a different people than Americans and Europeans? I’m confused, again. Or maybe just a lot less pessimistic about the world we live in.

Peter Jones would call it the New Paganism.

annihilationism

With any luck, we’ll see the decline and fall of the American Empire and, with a bit more luck, the restoration of the American Republic.

folks, its communism risen from the grave.

Now wait a minute. Am I missing something? Didn’t the original post offer at least a glimmer of hope saying: “that the relativism of postmodernism is ending and that a new cultural and intellectual movement is emerging.” I would see that as a positive change not a negative one. And being out here on the front lines in a State University community I do she a change beginning where young people in their early 20’s – some single, some married, some with children – are indeed looking for substantive, intellectual, non-relativistic answers. I’m talking nearly 3-dozen 20-somethings coming to our congregation from relativistic, emotion-based, humanistic churches. They want rational, “what does this mean”, intellectually honest and consistent answers. They SEE the nihilism and the relativism and are rejecting it. What do we call this “movement”? Is it a coming “age” or “era”? I don’t know whether it will be short lived or not, but I would say it is going to persist beyond the end of post-modernism. It may take 2 more generations to come to the fore, but from my perspective post modernism is on its way out. What’s next? A dialectic-opposite? Something transitional before a return to a different sort of authoritarianism? I do think we have a chance to catch hold of something here and help direct it. Forget those over 40 (of which generation I am at the end). What about those under 30? Are there not those who are rejecting postmodernism? Who are we that read this post, after all?

Narcissism?

Much as I want to believe that a rejection of post-modernism’s relativism, with a return to common and traditional absolutes, is gaining steam and will become the dominant attitude of our society, I’m not quite so optimistic. Rather, I see two streams diverging: that one, which embraces, even seeks shared and transcendent absolutes; and another which will be dominant and eventually marginalize the first.

This second stream or movement I’ll call “The Self-Enlightenment”, and it grows out of the me-generation, existentialism, and relativism. It’s similar to what existed during the periods of apostasy during the era of the Judges: “every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Rather than claiming that there are no standards, as relativism does, people will instead set themselves up as the arbiters in all things. They will accept the idea of absolutes, but only in a personal and self-centered way: “This thing is true; it is absolutely true because it agrees with what I absolutely think and feel.”

This way of thinking will conveniently still allow for “absolutes” to change to suit one’s circumstances, because the standard is tied to one’s thoughts and feelings, rather than anything objective. But as long as lots of other people think the same way, the illusion of a true absolute can exist can comfort all who share that point of view. For instance, “I absolutely think that murder is wrong” will be shared by many and have the appearance, to them, of a universal truth; but so could, “I absolutely feel that animals are people, too, and should have all the rights that humans do.”

A real negative to this “Self-enlightened” movement will be the decline of substantive discourse and debate. Without any true and universal standards to appeal to, it will become almost impossible to bring two opposing points of view to agreement or peace. “I know what I know and feel what I feel — and I’ve been taught from little on that I’m special no matter what, and that I should have a very high opinion of myself and my thoughts and my feelings have always been validated — and I think I’ve thought this through enough. So my position is correct, and yours therefore cannot be.”

So, anyway, that’s my suggestion: “Self-Enlightenment”.

#16 J,
There is no such thing as, “luck”!

I recall a book I read several years ago in which the author, Fred Baue referred to something he termed,
as the sensate. I don’t remember the specifics of the term, but if anyone is interested the title is:
“The Spiritual Society: What Lurks Beyond Postmodernism?”

CRB (#28), wasn’t that a fantastic book? I believe the sensate dealt with that which looked to worldly, tangible stuff, and the ideational was that which looked the ideal, non-materialistic. He called the age the “Therian Age” in which society concerned itself with non-material things, but is hostile to Christianity. I’d say we’re getting there.

Reconstructionism is already used for a particular form of post-millennial Reformed Theology associated with Rousas John Rushdooney and Gary North.

I suspect that what is arising is some flavor of fascism.

Allen, let’s hope that Space X can give them a run for the money. Some of Pournelle’s old works that are applicable have been republished as a collection in an ebook from Baen.