Uncritical Theory: Postmodernism, Intellectuals and the Gulf War

Abstract

On 29 March 1991, shortly after cessation of hostilities in Gulf War, Jean Baudrillard published an article entitled The Gulf War has not taken place, in which he argued that the true belligerents are those who thrive on ideology of truth of this war. It is in response to such excesses of post-modernism that Christopher Norris has written this extended polemical essay. He argues that extreme cognitive scepticism and relativism of this school of thought is profoundly disabling for critical theory. Reviewing writings of Derrida, Foucault, Lyotard and Baudrillard, as well as American neo-pragmatist school as represented by Rorty and Fish, he meticulously examines flaws in their arguments, and makes an impassioned plea for continuance of philosopher's role as intellectual critic of real world politics and governments.