Role theory in view of postmodernism and the "author effect"

John Murphy

pp. 381-392

in: Philip Blosser, Eiichi Shimomissé, Lester Embree, Hiroshi Kojima (eds), Japanese and Western phenomenology, Berlin, Springer, 1993

Abstract

Critics of postmodernism claim that this philosophy culminates in the destruction of culture and order, due to the epistemology that is advanced. The argument in this paper is that such a charge is inaccurate. Therefore, the image of knowledge and order promulgated by postmodems is discussed. Additionally, roles are illustrated to be compatible with postmodernism, as long as the traditional version of role theory is significantly altered. The social construction of order can be captured by roles, if these constructs are not portrayed in structural terms.