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That's part of the culture war, "intersectional" in this context is an academic term rooted in the postmodern philosophy at the center of far left ideology. Int

That's part of the culture war, "intersectional" in this context is an academic term rooted in the postmodern philosophy at the center of far left ideology. Intersectionality in the sense of Foucault posits that ways of knowing, like science, are socially constructed (along with other norms you may have heard about, like gender identity) and since they are socially constructed they are culturally relative. Since cultures are all equal in value under the ideology of intersectionality, traditional ways of knowing are considered equal to those held up by Western society, like science. You see, science is actually eurocentric, so supporting other ways of knowing is choosing the side in the culture wars that says we trust science because it's white and society is racist, therefore we must find a new "intersectional" scientific method I'm so sorry I explained this. I don't have the energy to find citations since my posts on HN always get flagged but I assure you that funding choice is absolutely part of furthering the culture war lol

bildung 4y ago
That's false I fear. Intersectionality hasn't much to do with Foucault. It's a framework for analyzing multiple levels of discrimination occuring at the same time (say for someone having both a physical disability and mental illness). You could have just linked to wikipedia ;) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectionality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectionality IMO there's quite a bit to criticize in that approach, but calling it postmodernist relativism doesn't really fit.
- dcow 4y ago
  Foucault is often considered the father of the ideas that underpin intersectionality, at least in the academic sense. Check out his wikipedia and read the section Influence and reception, specifically Critiques and engagements > Social constructionism and human nature: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault
- MikePlacid 4y ago
  Here’s a sample of real life I’ve found through SeRCH Foundation (the entity that WMF is reportedly channeling my money to) website: https://conversations.vanguardstem.com/a-practical-guide-to-mentoring-across-intersections-c596496ee334 https://conversations.vanguardstem.com/a-practical-guide-to-... This [intersectional] approach requires both student and mentor to acknowledge that true professional development, incorporating belonging, requires affirmation, not assimilation. (The other striking example of affirmation, not assimilation I’ve seen in a textbook for future school teachers enrolled in SFSU credential program. There was a chapter in the textbook on how to recognize signs of a student belonging to a youth band culture - and how to respect and affirm it. No, I am not kidding.)
  - MikePlacid 4y ago
    “Youth band culture” should be “youth gang culture”, sorry for stepping on a “false friend of the interpreter”: “gang” is “banda” in Russian.
dcow 4y ago
This post checks out. Roughly. The problem isn’t with the idea that there can be other ways of knowing out there to explore, it’s with the total rejection of science because it’s somehow innately white and thus undeniably racist. Even if you believe knowledge is entirely socially constructed, to dismiss one construct simply because of the perceived social identity (remember race is a construct, too) of it’s progenitors is where it leaves the realm of academia and becomes part of the culture war zeitgeist.
stevewatson301 4y ago
Rather ironically, it would imply that Muslims in the medieval age weren't doing "science", and therefore the Wikipedia article on it[1] is inaccurate and should be removed. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_in_the_medieval_Islamic_world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_in_the_medieval_Islami...
yjp20 4y ago
That's a pretty severe mischaracterization of intersectionality in general. Intersectionality refers to the fact that you can't analyze human experiences as linear terms (being black, being a woman) and that you must consider the effects of being some combination of categories. As an example, intersectionality claims that being both black and a woman brings separate challenges than the additive combination of being black and being a woman. That's all there is to intersectionality, any conclusions you make beyond that are your interpretation of intersectionality, not the general consensus of the "far left".
- zozbot234 4y ago
  https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-intersectionality/ https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-intersectionality/ clarifies how the notion of intersectionality is generally interpreted in a Foucaldian way by most people who engage with it. This "interpretation" is not just parent post's but widespread enough to call it a consensus.
  - apocalypstyx 4y ago
    You're going to quote James Lindsay, the guy who refers to critical theory as 'race marxism'? This source is so biased Ma'at's feather never had a chance.
    - dcow 4y ago
      Lindsay is an academic and his arguments are out there for you to rebut if you wish. Attacking his character doesn't dismiss his ideas even though the left wishes as much.
      - apocalypstyx 4y ago
        It appears many do not know the actual definition of ad hominem. The definition of the term is out there to be looked up.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
apocalypstyx 4y ago
Foucault and Duchamp are the two boogeymen of the 20th and 21st centuries.
apocalypstyx 4y ago
> socially constructed (along with other norms you may have heard about, like gender identity) and since they are socially constructed they are culturally relative. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-construction-naturalistic/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-construction-natur... https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-institutions/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-institutions/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology-social/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology-social/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-knowledge-social/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-knowledge-soci... https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/

bildung 4y ago

That's false I fear. Intersectionality hasn't much to do with Foucault. It's a framework for analyzing multiple levels of discrimination occuring at the same time (say for someone having both a physical disability and mental illness). You could have just linked to wikipedia ;) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectionality https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersectionality IMO there's quite a bit to criticize in that approach, but calling it postmodernist relativism doesn't really fit.

dcow 4y ago
Foucault is often considered the father of the ideas that underpin intersectionality, at least in the academic sense. Check out his wikipedia and read the section Influence and reception, specifically Critiques and engagements > Social constructionism and human nature: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Foucault
MikePlacid 4y ago
Here’s a sample of real life I’ve found through SeRCH Foundation (the entity that WMF is reportedly channeling my money to) website: https://conversations.vanguardstem.com/a-practical-guide-to-mentoring-across-intersections-c596496ee334 https://conversations.vanguardstem.com/a-practical-guide-to-... This [intersectional] approach requires both student and mentor to acknowledge that true professional development, incorporating belonging, requires affirmation, not assimilation. (The other striking example of affirmation, not assimilation I’ve seen in a textbook for future school teachers enrolled in SFSU credential program. There was a chapter in the textbook on how to recognize signs of a student belonging to a youth band culture - and how to respect and affirm it. No, I am not kidding.)
- MikePlacid 4y ago
  “Youth band culture” should be “youth gang culture”, sorry for stepping on a “false friend of the interpreter”: “gang” is “banda” in Russian.

dcow 4y ago

This post checks out. Roughly. The problem isn’t with the idea that there can be other ways of knowing out there to explore, it’s with the total rejection of science because it’s somehow innately white and thus undeniably racist. Even if you believe knowledge is entirely socially constructed, to dismiss one construct simply because of the perceived social identity (remember race is a construct, too) of it’s progenitors is where it leaves the realm of academia and becomes part of the culture war zeitgeist.

stevewatson301 4y ago

Rather ironically, it would imply that Muslims in the medieval age weren't doing "science", and therefore the Wikipedia article on it[1] is inaccurate and should be removed. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_in_the_medieval_Islamic_world https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_in_the_medieval_Islami...

yjp20 4y ago

That's a pretty severe mischaracterization of intersectionality in general. Intersectionality refers to the fact that you can't analyze human experiences as linear terms (being black, being a woman) and that you must consider the effects of being some combination of categories. As an example, intersectionality claims that being both black and a woman brings separate challenges than the additive combination of being black and being a woman. That's all there is to intersectionality, any conclusions you make beyond that are your interpretation of intersectionality, not the general consensus of the "far left".

zozbot234 4y ago
https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-intersectionality/ https://newdiscourses.com/tftw-intersectionality/ clarifies how the notion of intersectionality is generally interpreted in a Foucaldian way by most people who engage with it. This "interpretation" is not just parent post's but widespread enough to call it a consensus.
- apocalypstyx 4y ago
  You're going to quote James Lindsay, the guy who refers to critical theory as 'race marxism'? This source is so biased Ma'at's feather never had a chance.
  - dcow 4y ago
    Lindsay is an academic and his arguments are out there for you to rebut if you wish. Attacking his character doesn't dismiss his ideas even though the left wishes as much.
    - apocalypstyx 4y ago
      It appears many do not know the actual definition of ad hominem. The definition of the term is out there to be looked up.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

apocalypstyx 4y ago

Foucault and Duchamp are the two boogeymen of the 20th and 21st centuries.

apocalypstyx 4y ago

> socially constructed (along with other norms you may have heard about, like gender identity) and since they are socially constructed they are culturally relative. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-construction-naturalistic/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-construction-natur... https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-institutions/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-institutions/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology-social/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/epistemology-social/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-knowledge-social/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-knowledge-soci... https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/ https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/social-ontology/