This is a phrase that now puts me off entirely. It is the equivalent of "It's obvious that..." or "Only a fool would..." When I hear it, I envision hand-waving, condescension, smirking, disdain, or that new thing on reels where guys are drinking from a mug and nodding thoughtfully.
The postmodernists are correct in noting that everyone has unexamined assumptions, especially those who claim to be the most scientific or most orthodox or most knowledgeable. Poking those balloons with a pin often reveals them as the least scientific, orthodox, or knowledgeable. I believe in science, orthodoxy, and knowledge, which is why I am extra suspicious of those who claim it without evidence. "Just look at history" is only a way of saying "I can't prove it but I want to skate by without being challenged by being intimidating."
BTW the postmodernists usually fail by exempting themselves from consideration of unchecked assumptions. When challenged, they happily point to the unexamined assumptions that they have considered but cost them nothing. It is similar to the chronological snobbery that irritated Barfield, or the chronocentrism which Lewis kept identifying. Yes, all ages have their biases - especially this one.
It can be used to "prove" why capitalism never works and why socialism never does; how Trump is a fascist or his opponents are; how women have it easy or women are oppressed. It is a social rather than logical or evidentiary argument, relying on cherry-picked data.
So stop that. Do I have to pull this car over?
Sometimes the flabbergast factor is so high that one is at a loss to know where to start the reply. "Look at history, just about anywhere. People are always fighting, with intervals of peace."
ReplyDeleteCan you prove this theorem? "Just look at math!"
ReplyDeleteThe story I heard (I've forgotten the names attached) was that two mathematicians were leading a seminar of grad students, and one of them (A) was writing the logical steps for a proof on the board. The other (B) stopped him and said, "Wait a minute, you have to prove that step." (A) replied, "No, it's obvious" They got into an argument about it, and eventually the students filed out. The next day one of the students ran into (B) and asked what the upshot was. (B) answered, "He was right. It _is_ obvious."
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