Blissfully Uneducated
The theme of all such therapeutic curricula is relativism. There are
no eternal truths, only passing assertions that gain credence through
power and authority. Once students understand how gender, race, and
class distinctions are used to oppress others, they are then free to
ignore absolute “truth,” since it is only a reflection of one’s own
privilege.
Preach it, Victor Davis Hanson. Preach it.
3 Comments
Two quick thoughts:
1. Is he also concluding that there is no sense in which truth, or what is taken to be truth, can be seriously impacted by gender, race, class, etc? If so, seems like he’s sliding down an awfully steep slippery slope.
2. Is he also rejecting Divine Command Theory? According to it, it’s merely will, seen as the ememplification of his power and authority, that makes things right.
1. I think he’d say that while race and class should influence the situations in which truth is applied (and maybe even the application), the “truth” is outside of our situation.
2. My impression is that he’s coming at this from a natural law perspective, which may or may not involve God (depending on with whom you speak).
On (1): I’d be interested in knowing how he thinks he can successfully pull them apart in such a way that the result isn’t itself prey to the very kinds of analysis he thinks is misguided. It’s not that I’m saying he’s wrong, just that most people would argue such a thesis, and then suggest that of course their epistemic vision is magically clear of all of these misguided influences.
On (2): Guess it depends on why natural law is natural law; is it the result of God’s will? If so, we’re back at square one again, I think.