#### Postmodern Intellectuals’ Abuse of Science `Author:`Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont `Availability:` > [!info] > ## Key Takeaways ## Summary ## Quotes - ## Notes [[Alan Sokal]] and Jean Bricmont’s Fashionable Nonsense: Postmodern Intellectuals’ Abuse of science critiques several prominent postmodern thinkers for what they argue is a misuse or misrepresentation of scientific and mathematical concepts. Below are some of the thinkers they critique and examples of the issues they highlight: 1. Jacques Lacan • Critique: Sokal and Bricmont argue that Lacan uses mathematical concepts, such as topology and [[Set Theory]], in a way that is incoherent and metaphorical rather than rigorous or meaningful. • Example: Lacan’s claim that the human psyche is structured like a [[Möbius strip]] is criticised for being more poetic than scientifically or mathematically grounded. The authors point out that such statements lack clarity and do not contribute to understanding either mathematics or [[Psychology]]. 2. Julia Kristeva • Critique: They accuse Kristeva of misusing mathematical and scientific terminology, particularly in her discussions of linguistics and psychoanalysis. • Example: In Revolution in Poetic [[Language]], Kristeva references concepts like “set theory” and “Einsteinian space-time” but applies them in ways that the authors argue are nonsensical or purely decorative, without adding substantive [[Meaning]] to her argument. 3. [[Bruno Latour]] • Critique: Latour is criticised for relativising scientific knowledge, portraying scientific facts as entirely constructed rather than grounded in objective reality. • Example: Latour’s analysis of Pasteur’s discoveries about microbes is critiqued for suggesting that microbes exist only because of social and scientific practices, which Sokal and Bricmont see as undermining the independent reality of scientific facts. 4. Jean Baudrillard • Critique: Baudrillard is accused of making grandiose claims without [[Empirical]] or logical support, particularly regarding his theories of hyperreality and simulacra. • Example: His suggestion that the Gulf [[War]] “did not take place” is criticised as being deliberately provocative but ultimately incoherent, confusing the symbolic representation of [[War]] with its actual occurrence. 5. Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari • Critique: They argue that Deleuze and Guattari’s work, particularly in A Thousand Plateaus, includes unnecessarily complex jargon and dubious scientific analogies. • Example: The use of terms like “deterritorialisation” and “rhizomatic structures” is criticised for being obscure and for misapplying scientific ideas such as fractals and [[Chaos]] theory to social and philosophical contexts without justification. Key Themes in Their Critique 1. Misuse of Terminology: Sokal and Bricmont argue that postmodern thinkers borrow scientific language inappropriately, using it metaphorically or out of context to appear sophisticated. 2. Lack of Rigor: They critique the lack of clear definitions and logical coherence in these thinkers’ use of scientific ideas. 3. Obfuscation: The authors claim that some postmodernist works use overly complex language to mask the absence of substantive content. Implications of Their Critique Sokal and Bricmont aim to defend the integrity of scientific reasoning, arguing that postmodernism often undermines it through [[Relativism]] and intellectual dishonesty. They contend that this misuse not only misleads readers but also weakens public trust in science. `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:` [[Books index]]