A War Against ‘Normal’

James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | May 28, 2020 | Sumantra Maitra

[karpov]

A question of power is at the heart of the new and interesting book by Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay. The Anglo-American liberal duo did a tremendous service to the academy in 2018 by hoaxing several “grievance studies” journals that publish shoddy activist scholarship. Their book, “Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity—And Why This Harms Everybody,” explains the theoretical foundations of activist disciplines in the academy and warns policymakers about the threats they pose.

The central thesis is thus: Our institutions of higher education are under attack from the virus of post-modernism, along with its various sub-fields of post-colonialism, queer theory, gender studies, intersectional feminism, and so forth. They are all revolutionary theories and subversive in nature. They share some common themes, such as a blurring of boundaries, an excessive focus on the power of languages and words, ahistorical cultural relativism, and a penchant for collectivism at the cost of both the individual and the universal.

This elimination of boundaries and differences, in effect, is a rebellion against anything “normal”—an actual rebellion against the very concept of normal—that rejects “anything considered normal and innate” in society.

When nothing is normal, there are no rules. The very structure of civilization collapses into anarchy, and that is the ultimate aim. For example, Pluckrose and Lindsay write,

“Queer theory is about liberation from the normal, especially where it comes to norms of gender and sexuality. This is because it regards the very existence of categories of sex, gender, and sexuality to be oppressive. Because queer theory derives directly from postmodernism, it is radically skeptical that these categories are based in any biological reality.”

Seen from this lens, everything makes sense.

[PGalt]

War against “non essentials”. How can these deplorables not see our VIRTUES said the POS SCUMBAG SUPERCRIMINALS.

[Terry L Smith]

The war against ‘normal’ began with the announcement of barack hussein mmm mmm mmm obama running for president.

[libertylover]

They are all revolutionary theories and subversive in nature. They share some common themes, such as a blurring of boundaries, an excessive focus on the power of languages and words, ahistorical cultural relativism, and a penchant for collectivism at the cost of both the individual and the universal.

Yes, but the common theme to the common themes is: "Let's hate normal white men, especially normal white American men".

[Jan_Sobieski]

Perhaps we should let all the leftists, queers, transgenders, homosexuals, college professors, etc. fight the next war against China? I volunteer to transport them to the landing craft for the first wave!

[Jan_Sobieski]

Oh...I forgot Antifa and the Jacobins. They like to fight...let them fight the Chinese!

[IronJack]

Bookmark

[aquila48]

“Unfortunately, Cynical Theories offers a great examination of the problem within academia, but so far as policy suggestions go, it only offers vague utopian wishes. Pluckrose and Lindsay can be many things, but historians and international relations scholars they are not. If their claim is correct that post-modernism is dangerously subversive to the very foundation of Western civilization, then that threat would not be won in “the marketplace of ideas,” given that the levers of such ideas are controlled by the same people with whom one is battling (as Lindsay correctly points out himself). Cancer isn’t cured by hymn chanting, but by a clinical operation.

To paraphrase the ancient Athenians, for someone so clever, the Melians don’t seem to understand a simple reality: Melos is an island, and we are in control of the sea. Power is tackled with power, not just ideas and values. For all their faults, the post-modernists, like the Marxists, understand the question of power far better than liberals, and are willing to use it for political ends.”

In other words you don’t get rid of this cultural rot by having debates with the termites, you exterminate the termites. Saying stuff like “I don’t want to get down to their level” is for losers.

[Captain Rhino]

Here is a fun video dramatizing the runaway nature of the process when feelings count more than facts. Please watch it all the way to the end (8 minutes).

2+2=22: https://youtu.be/Zh3Yz3PiXZw

[veracious]

Re: A War Against ‘Normal’

I prefer: A War Against Reality

The multitude of demon fueled humans among us have been destroying God’s reality, His creation, since the beginning.
They with their gods, wander the earth, stealing, killing and destroying (reality), everywhere they go.

Real VS illusion. Real VS delusion. Real verses virtual...

[clearcarbon]

The “New Normal” is just the “Old Fascism.”

[Albion Wilde]

The book...give[s] volumes of examples of how the various subfields of post-modernism are actively seeking to destroy the very foundations of Western civilization—the building blocks of society, logic, reason, and academia itself... the best part of Pluckrose and Lindsay’s tome. Many people have mentioned how the academic institutions they knew have changed over time and how everything, from media to research, seems like ideological propaganda. But they perhaps wouldn’t readily have the evidence to prove it. Cynical Theories provides them with example upon example as evidence...

Graduate & Professional Degree ping

To be added to this occasional ping list, freepmail Albion Wilde with your degree and discipline.

[JimRed]

Normal- a new “N” word, because it triggers those who are NOT.

[Honorary Serb]

Consider how many “normal” people (i.e., “normal” according to post-modernism) did revolutionary things—in government (such as the American Revolution), science, art, society, civilization, etc.

[LS]

Thanks. Good one.

[Albion Wilde]

The pleasure is mine, professor.