Question at position 56 According to postmodernism, knowledge is:fixed and universal.useless.depending on cultural background.only true if it is based on empirical evidence.subjective and shaped by society.

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, let's restate the question to anchor our discussion: According to postmodernism, knowledge is what? And we have the following options to evaluate:
- fixed and universal.
- useless.
- depending on cultural background.
- only true if it is based on empirical evidence.
- subjective and shaped by society.

Option 1: 'fixed and universal.' Postmodernist thought rejects the idea of fixed, universal truths. It argues that knowledge is contingent, contextual, and shaped by power dynamics and social processes. Therefore this statement is inconsistent with postmodernism.

Option 2: 'useless.' This is an extreme and inaccurate characterization. Postmodernists don’t argue that knowledge is useless; rather, they critique claims of objectivity and universality, emphasizing critique and context. Calling knowledge 'useless' dismisses the nuanced aims of inquiry and critique that postmodern perspectives often encourage.

Option 3: 'depending on cultural background.' This option captures part of the postmodern insight—that knowledge is influenced by cultural and social location. However, it stops short of emphasizing the social construction aspect and the broader claim that knowledge is shaped by societal processes, power relations, and language. It’s a partial fit but not entirely comprehensive.

Option 4: 'only true if it is based on empirical evidence.' This aligns more with positivist or modernist emphases on empirical verification, not with postmodernism, which problematizes claims to objective empiricism and stresses that evidence interpretation is mediated by discourse and context. So this is not aligned with postmodernist views.

Option 5: 'subjective and shaped by society.' This statement aligns most closely with postmodernism, which argues that knowledge is socially constructed, contingent, and influenced by language, power, and cultural context. It emphasizes subjectivity and social shaping rather than absolute objectivity.

In sum, the reasoning shows that the postmodern stance rejects fixed universals and objectivity as complete accounts of knowledge, endorsing instead social construction and subjectivity, with Option 5 providing the most accurate characterization among the choices. The nuanced relationship to culture is reflected in Option 3 as well, but Option 5 offers the broader and more precise description within postmodernist theory.

Question at position 56 According to postmodernism, knowledge is:fixed and universal.useless.depending on cultural background.only true if it is based on empirical evidence.subjective and shaped by society.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Question at position 25 empiricismrationalismlocal scepticismidealismglobal scepticism

Question at position 4 Immanuel KantRené DescartesAristotleJohn LockeDavid Hume

位置20的问题 Label the following sentence correctly: I know that I am a free being. Knowledge by AcquaintancePropositional KnowledgeKnowledge-How

位置16的问题 Determine whether the following area of inquiry is in A. Metaphysics, B. Epistemology, C. Axiology, or D. Logic. 1. This branch examines the limits and extent of human knowledge. EpistemologyMetaphysicsLogicAxiology

Where is knowledge located?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler