10 Theses

1. „Postmodernity“ serves as a overall concept for a whole spectrum of theoretical currents like deconstruction, post-structuralism, post-colonialism, gender studies, contemporary critical theory, phenomenology and other.
2. The usability of the term „postmodernity“ stems from its popularity. It is a concept in transition, that increasingly goes out of fashion, but until a better term is found this web-site will speak of „postmodernity“.
3. The plurality of the concepts mentioned above does not allow to define the nature of “postmodernity”. It exists as an “empty” label, that is rather heuristic than descriptive and suitable for the broad indication of an interest.
4. Generally speaking the family resemblance of those concepts is to be found in epistemology. Their common point of departure is the conditionality and contextuality of experience, knowledge and reason. This conditionality is articulated with linguistic, historical, social, cultural, aesthetic, political and philosophical arguments.
5. A common matter of “postmodern” currents of thought is alterity. The legitimacy of the “other”, of difference and plurality, is a paradigmatic (but not exclusive) trait of “postmodern” thinking.
6. Most people agree that “postmodernity” does not mean an end to modernity, but a movement within modernity itself. “Postmodernity” participates in the problem of definition of modernity.
7. Theology has limited its dialog to a “respectable postmodernity” (Lyotard) in form of a high quality theory. Dialog was established with philosophers like wie Jacques Derrida, Jean-Francois Lyotard, Emmanuel Levinas, Michel Foucault, Michel de Certeau, Jacques Lacan, Gianni Vattimo and others, that work on a comparable level.
8. Any form of “postmodernity” in the sense of colourful indifference cannot be a partner of dialog of theology.
9. “Postmodernity” does not imply a certain political and ecclesiastical agenda. There are liberal as well as conservative “postmodern” theologies.
10. Employing the term “postmodernity” on the theologians mentioned on this web-site does take place without explicit permission. Some of these thinkers do not understand themselves as “postmodern”.

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