Truth in the Postmodern University with Randy Wayne

Cornell University is “is now dominated by an administration-sanctioned postmodern philosophy based on the idea that there is no objective truth, and that knowledge is a social construct created by those in power to victimize others.” So says Randy Wayne, Associate Professor of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, writing in a recent article in the Heterodox STEM substack.
For many years, Randy Wayne has been watching as an ideology that negates the very idea of science as a search for objective truth. He has been carrying on an increasingly lonely fight to defend the sciences against this corrosive ideology. Despite the odds, Randy characterizes the postmodern university as “salvageable.”
In this discussion with Randy Wayne, he will be sharing his experiences defending intellectual freedom at a top-ranked research university.
This event features Randy Wayne, Associate Professor of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

[@psychnstatstutor]

Fanatic discussion~ thanks much (J. mike closer to face would be v helpful volume wise ~:-) REaly like the model Randy~ am exploring your world now

[@chrisruss9861]

From a non academic this was a good discussion.

[@nancyjimeno7001]

Cardinal Ratzinger said, “When the impossible becomes the guideline of reality, then violence and destruction of nature, and humanity with it, are unavoidable.” We’re getting there.

[@falconinflight6235]

PC USA woke education system is where IQ, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, merit, achievement, logic, reasoning and STEM knowledge really does not matter.

[@audiho]

I am hearing a lot about the widespread need for capital/investment at universities, and much less about how "postmodernism" drives issues in academia, namely the sciences. Just like everything else that was ever cool, Postmodernism has been co-opted by people who need a convenient way to bullshit without being held accountable, and by academics looking for an -ism to scapegoat. Sucks for postmodernism, because it doesn't mean "science = whatever we want it to be." It is simply skepticism of popular narratives; it does not advocate for a replacement narrative. Maybe some "hard" scientists should brush up on "soft" sciences and some philosophy. Then I could take DEI complaints more seriously, since you would probably start focusing more on the economic and political incentives/problems involved here.

[@donjindra]

Postmodernism is radical skepticism of science and reason. It's an extremely irrational worldview. It's as 'cool' as insanity is cool.

[@audiho]

@@donjindra It doesn't play favorites with its skepticism though. That's important to note. That means postmodernism isn't lending any further credence to nonscientific views, or "unreasonable" views.

[@donjindra]

@@audiho It tries to discredit all rational thought. How can you seriously believe that this doesn't lend "credence" to irrationality? Note that credence is a dubious concept in itself with postmodernism. The ideology does play favorites with it's own nonsense, though.

[@audiho]

@@donjindra There have been good reasons for people to note what reason and science tend to overlook. Science is not reality--it is an incredible human achievement and our best way of predicting (and then manipulating) reality. It does not address ethics and barely scratches the surface of the human experience. The fact that postmodernism rose on the heels of WW2 should be telling.