Posted by
J Bradley Stephens on Friday, September 01, 2006 8:46:29 AM
This summer, I completed requirements for a degree in History and Religious Studies at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville but not before one final bout with Post-modernism being hailed from the classroom. For the laymen, post-modernism is a looses conglomeration of ideas that state objectivity is unattainable and stresses "interpretation" of experience for individuals to discover what is "true" for them. It can be more easily described as a rejection of the Enlightenment and scientific observation, foundations of modern western society. It is amazing how sheepish college students can be in accepting uncritically what is proclaimed by their professors. A big problem on college campuses is the shear intellectual laziness of those enrolled in universities across America. But in a culture that stresses moral relativism and multi-cuturalism many students feel it is improper to "Judge" others or even entertain thoughts that stray from plantation of "liberalism". After all, America has its own problems, right? How can we judge "others"? Aristotle must be rolling in his grave.
Historical perspective is lacking among many college students today. Those with a historical background are often limited in scope. To them history is seen through the lens of European colonialism. Guilt for their elevated station in life as Americans form barriers to clear thinking. But can you decide to whom you are born? The political left is always searching for Plato's Utopia and continue to implement ideas that have failed the test of history. Failing to see the forest for the trees, the left ignores the grand accomplishments of the west. They focus on horrors chattel slavery but fail to see it as a continuation of the Islamic Moorish practices in Spain and Portugal. Nor the efforts of the British Empire in ending the transatlantic slave trade. History has seen the migration of populations throughout the world. It is only in recent centuries, through western scholarship, that these process and their impact can be described. History reminds us of mistakes made in the past but also its successes. It also reminds us of unique attempts of the west to redeem itself.