3 ms·
Two really: (1) Group identity (race, religion, culture) superseding individual identity. (2) The idea that knowledge and even fact can be culturally relative
by api 8y ago
Two really:
(1) Group identity (race, religion, culture) superseding individual identity.
(2) The idea that knowledge and even fact can be culturally relative or in its softer form the idea that it's impossible to think objectively about such things separately from your cultural identity.
#1 gave us resurgent white nationalism, since if my identity is "white" before my individuality it's the natural next step.
#2 gave us neo-fundamentalism, science denial, and "alternative facts." What if its just not my culture to believe that excess CO2 causes climate change? Who are you to force your cultural values on me?
If we are all groups and our only truths are group-truths, the next step is for all groups to declare war against each other to determine whose group truth is superior. "Triumph of the will" etc. Nothing is true, so there is only power.
These are not liberal ideas. They are fascist ideas. For some weird reason a subset of the academic left is marketing them as such.