Fenwick W.

English
Postmodernism-A Paradigm Shift

By: Melody A. Wilson

EDUL 7043 (PhD Course) by
William Allan Kritsonis, PhD
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
Pre-Modernism

Pre-modernism is the time period which

began shortly after the New Testament
was written. It was known as the
Christian era filled with creeds,
dogmatism, orthodoxy, tradition, and
had no clear line of demarcation
between the material and spiritual
worlds.
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
Modernism is synonymous with the
humanist philosophy of the
Enlightenment which began in the
17th Century, and according to some,
ended with the fall of communism. In
its very basic summation it was a
movement that was optimistic about
discovering universal truth that would
explain all of life
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
Postmodernists believe that the idea
of objective knowledge or that we
can know things with certainty.
Knowledge, on the whole, is seen as
uncertain, subjective, relative, and
hence tentative.
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
Postmodernism is about challenging
and opening up the central premise
that only one set of borders are
possible to define and support
professional practice.
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
Postmodernism-It is about
constructing a way of looking at the
world of ideas, concepts and systems
of thought . . .
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
What is a paradigm?

A paradigm is ones model for

interpreting
reality
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
Postmodernism

Multiple views of reality

Modernism
Reality is discerned through an objective

One Reality
Any doctrine is open to examination
Reality is testable

Truth is discovered and context free

 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
The newiest trend in management consulting is faith based leader
Max De Pree (2000) writes:

leadership involves more than a charismatic personality or parti

Skills; rather, leadership is about character. Character does not em

from nowhere but springs from deeply held convictionsif leaders

To withstand the inherent pressures in their positionsthen their

Character must be anchored in faith. (p. viii)

Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
 Postmodernism-A Paradigm
Shift
References

English, Fenwich. The Postmodern Challenge To The Theory and Practice of

Educational Administration. Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Ltd. Springfield,
Illinois, 2003.

Grenz, Stanley J. A Primer on Postmodernism. Grand Rapids: Eedmans,

1996.

Hawkins, Craig S. The Bible, Logic, and the Postmodern Predicament,

copyright 2000;
http://www.apologeticsinfo.org/papers/logicpostmodern.html ; retrieved on
October 6, 2005.

McCallum, Dennis, ed. The Death of Truth: Whats Wrong with

Multiculturalism, the Rejection of Reason, and the New Postmodern
Diversity. Minneapolis: Bethany, 1996.

Phillip, Timothy R., and Dennis L. Okholm, eds. Christian Apologetics in the
Postmodern World. Downer Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1995.