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Humanism Betrayed
Theory, Ideology, and Culture in the Contemporary University
Language:
English
Published/Copyright:
2001
About this book
The intellectual trends Good discusses include what he calls the New Sectarianism, which rejects individuality in favour of collective identities based on race, gender, and sexual preference; Presentism, which rejects the notion of history as a continuous narrative in favour of seeing the past as interpretable in any way that suits the political interests of the present; and a "hermeneutic of suspicion," in which literary texts are seen as masks for discreditable political motives. Good demonstrates that these trends culminate in the prison-like "carceral" vision of Michel Foucault and his followers: the view that culture is ideology and that culture does not free humans but incarcerates them. Good contrasts this view with the liberal vision of culture and society represented by Northrop Frye, concluding with an analysis of the relationship between anti-humanist theory among academics and the managerial practices of university administrations, which, he argues, neglect or reject basic humanistic values such as free individuality, aesthetic greatness, and autonomous inquiry.
Reviews
"An important, excellent work, refreshingly well written ... Good is able to avoid so many of the pitfalls on such a complex and controversial problem, producing an important analysis of a crucial, contemporary subject. The ability to present this problem economically, to summarize its intellectual background concisely yet accurately, and to make the whole into an accessible study is admirable." David Williams, Department of English, McGill University "Graham Good brings together a historical awareness of changes within literary theory and some important insights into their philosophical and cultural significance at a time when our society needs this analysis. He develops new concepts using important contemporary documents and scholarship. Good offers important insights into the grounding of developments that others have touched on from different angles." Iain T. Benson, barrister and solicitor, executive director, Centre for Cultural Renewal, Ottawa
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"An important, excellent work, refreshingly well written ... Good is able to avoid so many of the pitfalls on such a complex and controversial problem, producing an important analysis of a crucial, contemporary subject. The ability to present this problem economically, to summarize its intellectual background concisely yet accurately, and to make the whole into an accessible study is admirable." David Williams, Department of English, McGill University
"Graham Good brings together a historical awareness of changes within literary theory and some important insights into their philosophical and cultural significance at a time when our society needs this analysis. He develops new concepts using important contemporary documents and scholarship. Good offers important insights into the grounding of developments that others have touched on from different angles." Iain T. Benson, barrister and solicitor, executive director, Centre for Cultural Renewal, Ottawa
Topics
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Front Matter
i -
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Contents
v -
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Acknowledgments
vii -
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Introduction
1 -
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Political Correctness in Canada: The McEwen Report on the Political Science Department at ubc
9 -
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The New Sectarianism: Gender, Race, Sexual Orientation
22 -
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Theory 1: Marx, Freud, Nietzsche
39 -
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Theory 2: Constructionism, Ideology, Textuality
51 -
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Presentism: Postmodernism, Poststructuralism, Postcolonialism
63 -
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The Carceral Vision: Geertz, Greenblatt, Foucault, and Culture as Constraint
75 -
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The Liberal Humanist Vision: Northrop Frye and Culture as Freedom
89 -
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Conclusion: The Hegemony of Theory and the Managerial University
103 -
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References
111 -
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Index
117
Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
June 9, 2023
eBook ISBN:
9780773569232
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
Main content:
128
eBook ISBN:
9780773569232
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
