Truth or Consequences: The Promise & Perils of Postmodernism [Paperback]

Millard J. Erickson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2001

A 2002 Christianity Today Book of the Year! Postmodernism. The term slowly filtered into our vocabularies about three decades ago and now permeates most discussions of the humanities. Those who tout the promises and perils of this twentieth-century intellectual movement have filled many a bookshelf. And in a previous book, Postmodernizing the Faith: Evangelical Responses to the Challenge of Postmodernism, Millard J. Erickson provided his own summary of several evangelical responses--both positive and negative--to the movement. Now in this book Erickson offers his own promised in-depth analysis and constructive response.

• What are the intellectual roots of postmodernism?
• Who are its most prominent exponents?
• What can we learn from their critique of modernism?
• Where do their assumptions and analyses fail us?
• Where do we go from here?
• What might a post-postmodernism look like?

Erickson addresses these issues with characteristic discernment, clarity and evenhandedness, neither dismissing the insights of postmodern thought nor succumbing uncritically to its allure. An important book for all who are concerned with commending Christian truth to the culture within which we live.

Product Details

• Paperback: 335 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (September 25, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830826572
• ISBN-13: 978-0830826575
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,000,203 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Millard J. Erickson (B.A., University of Minnesota, B.D., Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A., University of Chicago, Ph.D., Northwestern University) has taught theology at several evangelical seminaries. He has written over twenty-five books and numerous articles. He and his wife, Virginia, have three daughters and live in Mounds View, Minnesota.

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16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hypermodern, March 19, 2002

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calcidius (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Truth or Consequences: The Promise & Perils of Postmodernism (Paperback)

This book is an analysis of postmodernism (or neo-pragmatism, post-Nietzschean philosophy or maybe just relativism) for those looking for a deeper understanding of the subject. Actually, since postmodernism doesn't have any clear sense, it is probably better to view this book as an introduction to Rorty, Derrida, Fish and Foucault (some might object that no clear sense can be found here either, but anyway).

The book first details some of the main aspects of the premodern view, the view that the 'postmodernists' are spending their efforts to refute, or at lest blur many of the distinctions made by Plato and his type (appearance-reality, made-found, etc.).

Following the history of western thought to the modern period (the next chapter of the book) the major thoughts of Descartes, Kant and Newton are discussed. The historical periods prior to the 'postmodern' take up about the first 100 pages and give anyone unfamiliar a good understanding of what is about to fall apart or be fuzzed up by the four horsemen that come on the scene next.

Actually, the philosophical views held by Rorty and company where expounded prior to their coming - the chapter dealing with these men (the predecessors) is called 'twentieth-century transitions to postmodernism'. The cast of characters includes Heidegger, Wittgenstein, Gadamer and Kuhn. The book is as complete as one would hope and deals with other philosophers I failed to mention here -- but the main focus of the book is on the four most recent exponents of 'postmodernism' . Allot of the book, the first half or more, is solely descriptive with a critique coming in the next sections (if you believe such a distinction is possible).

I would recommend this book (maybe not everything on Keirkegaard and some stuff about Derrida maybe) to anyone looking for a good intro. into the thoughts of Rorty Derrida, Fish and Foulcaut (postmodernism)-- although the book ends up being critical of much of what these men said it is a fair treatment.(if you believe such a thing is possible)