The Meaning of The Term Postmodernism is not easy to define. The term is used in philosophy, literature, social sciences and architecture. Different postmodern thinkers may have different opinions, and people from different fields may have somewhat different definitions of postmodernism . But in this article I will focus on postmodernism as used in philosophy. However, some of the points I emphasize may also be recognized in popular culture.
Postmodernism is of course composed by two parts post and modern .
Post is latin for after , and modernism refers to the modern period. He believed that there are certain self-evident principles that may provide a foundation for other types of knowledge. Descartes was rationalist he believed in reason, and he thought that human reason can grasp truths independent of time and place. However, let us not focus too much on Descartes and the etymology of the term postmodern. As I now turn to some characteristics of the postmodern, you will be able to see how it differs from Descartes, and not merely go into postmodernism as a historical phenomenon, but understand it qua philosophy.