Lyotard and the End of Grand Narratives

(Hardback)

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Lyotard's work challenges the presumption and orientation of modern political philosophy. In particular, he repudiates attempts to justify knowledge and society in terms of "grand" narratives of, for example, the liberation of mankind or the immanence of science. He argues that the totalising perspective of these meta-narratives is superseded by a post-modern acceptance of difference and variety and a scepticism towards unifying meta-theories. This study considers Lyotard's notion of a "grand" narraative and analyzes his critique of modernity. In the light of Lyotard's views, it goes on to examine the work of seven political thinkers whose ideas represent different stands of a distinctively modern perspective. The author concludes that, while their theories conform to Lyotard's conept of a metanarrative, they generate insights into the modern world which cannot be dismissed as lightly as their universalistic assumptions. Finally he comments on the plausibility and viability of Lyotard's repudiation of modernity.

Reviews

' ... Browning presents accessible accounts of both Lyotard's positions and the critical responses they engendered that are not unduly burdened by jargon ... Lyotard's originality and ingenuity is fully and critically appreciated by Gary Browning, who maintains a stance of sympathetic but critical detachment throughout this study. His reservations are clearly expounded and justified, and the book as a whole offers an integrated and persuasive account of how Lyotard's repudiation of generalising explanatory approaches was itself inflected by that mode of thought, but is also attentive to the significance of his contributions to the development of theorising after structuralism.' (Poststructualism and Radical Politics Newsletter) 'Those...who are looking for a clear and somewhat detached reconstruction of the strong critical and agonistic aspects of Lyotard's (political) philosophy, will surely like this beautiful and well presented book.' Tijdschrift voor filosofie

Author Bio

Professor Gary Browning is Associate Dean of the Department of Social Sciences at Oxford Brookes University.