Until recently, the wider picture was discussed by academics who got their inspiration from the theories proposed by philosophers and ideologues, such as Marx, Marcuse or Hegel. However, the failure of such theories to produce good predictions has brought about a remarkable change in the intellectual climate. Academics have become aware of the deep uncertainty and complexity of present-day society. Many of them have concluded that it is inherently futile to try and build universal theories, which would explain everything. They have lost their belief in progress , in the idea that evolution advances in a single and unambiguous direction .
Postmodernism defines itself in contrast to modernism.
Originally, the term comes from architecture, where modern architecture denotes the familiar glass, steel and concrete buildings with their straight, rectangular, geometric shapes. This led in the 1960's to a reaction by younger architects, who included different decorative elements inspired by earlier periods in their design. The most important impact of postmodernism was in philosophy, where it was heralded as a new stage in the history of ideas. During that period, a belief in rationality, progress and science spread through the intellectual establishment, preparing the grounds for the industrial revolution. According to the ideology of modernity, rational thought is the key to discovering the truth about the world and ourself.