Description
What are the ongoing changes in the political, economic and technological structures of human societies doing to the human individual? How are they affecting social interactions and conceptualizations of what it means to be human? What is happening to the Declaration of Human Rights as a global ethical standard? This lecture is an inquiry into possible answers. Over the course of the second half of the 20th century, the postmodern condition of the individual necessitated the questioning of overarching grand narratives. Traditional agreements on intersubjective social realities no longer seemed adequate. Individuals rebelled against autocratic structures and limitations in personal freedom. Increasingly, global citizens made global comparisons and called traditional cultural practices into question. Racism, nationalism, sexism, ageism…many different types of discrimination were identified and challenged. By now, alternatives have emerged and substantially changed human societies (e.g. gay marriage). Today, it appears we recognize that the co-existence of differing or even contradictory narratives is an acceptable norm. We have entered an era that not only questions narratives, but also signals awareness of their multitude and necessity. A post-postmodern era. Not always, however, does a post-postmodern individual know which narratives to accept and which to question, or for what reason. The very notion of tangible “knowledge” is in crisis. What does this mean for social inclusion? How can professional social workers adapt their methodologies to include uncertain, hybrid, fragmented post-postmodern selves…and in which of the many narratives should they be included?| Period | 21 Oct 2019 |
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| Held at | Hogeschool PXL, Belgium |