Lyotard and the End of Grand Narratives (University of Wales Press - Political Philosophy Now)

Jean-François Lyotard is generally acknowledged as the theoretical spokesperson for postmodernism. In 1979, his seminal work __The Postmodern Condition__ challenged the presumption and orientation of modern political philosophy. In particular, Lyotard repudiated the notion of grand narratives and promoted a postmodern acceptance of difference and variety and a skepticism towards unifying metatheories. Yet __The Postmodern Condition__ is just one work by a prolific author whose life and work involved close theoretical engagement with Kant, Hegel and Marx and who played a prominent role in the events in Paris of May 1968. This study combines a careful reading of Lyotard's texts with a critical review of his theoretical ploys to demonstrate the incapacity of theory. Lyotard's variety of styles, ranging from the incandescent __Libidinal Economy__ to the economical lucidity of __The Differend__, are recognized as posing questions for those who defend the rationality of the __status quo__ and for those who undertake general critiques of society. In this book, Gary Browning takes issue with Lyotard's approach to Hegel and Marx and his generalized notion of social development as proceeding according to a one-dimensional, instrumentalist logic. Nevertheless, Lyotard is shown to be a disturbing theorist who challenged the assumptions of classic theorists of modernity as well as opposing mainstream attitudes prevalent in contemporary political theory. This study considers Lyotard's notion of a "grand" narraative and analyzes his critique of modernity. In the light of Lyotard's views, it goes on to examine the work of seven political thinkers whose ideas represent different stands of a distinctively modern perspective. The author concludes that, while their theories conform to Lyotard's conept of a metanarrative, they generate insights into the modern world which cannot be dismissed as lightly as their universalistic assumptions. Finally he comments on the plausibility and viability of Lyotard's repudiation of modernity Lyotard's work challenges the presumption and orientation of modern political philosophy. In particular, he repudiates attempts to justify knowledge and society in terms of "grand" narratives of, for example, the liberation of mankind or the immanence of science. He argues that the totalising perspective of these meta-narratives is superseded by a post-modern acceptance of difference and variety and a scepticism towards unifying meta-theories Introduction -- Postmodernity And The Delegitimation Of Modernity -- The Development Of Lyotard's Thought: From Phenomenology To The Game Of Justice -- Beyond The Postmodern Condition: The Differend And After -- Lyotard And The Political -- Hegel And The Critique Of Closure -- Marz And The End Of Emancipation -- Conclusion. Gary K. Browning. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [193]-197) And Index.