Classical Postmodernism

The foundational period of postmodern thought, roughly 1960s-1980s, marked by the work of thinkers like Derrida, Foucault, Lyotard, and Baudrillard. Classical Postmodernism established the core themes: the critique of grand narratives, the deconstruction of binary oppositions, the emphasis on difference, the recognition of the power-knowledge connection. It was a period of intense theoretical production, of radical questioning, of intellectual ferment. Classical Postmodernism remains the source text for all later postmodernisms—the origin from which everything else flows.

Example: "He started with the classical texts—Derrida on deconstruction, Foucault on discipline, Lyotard on postmodern condition. Classical Postmodernism was harder than he expected, stranger, more challenging. But it was also richer, more generative, more alive than the watered-down versions he'd encountered."

by Dumu The Void March 8, 2026

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Classical Relativism

The foundational form of relativism, originating with the Sophists in ancient Greece and revived in various forms throughout Western philosophy. Classical Relativism argues that truth, knowledge, and values are relative to individuals, cultures, or contexts—that there is no universal standard by which all claims can be judged. Protagoras's famous dictum—"man is the measure of all things"—captures the classical spirit. Classical Relativism was a challenge to absolute claims, a weapon against dogma, a defense of diversity. It remains the source from which all later relativisms flow.

Example: "He read Protagoras and felt the shock of the new: truth relative to the knower, values relative to the culture, no view from nowhere. Classical Relativism was ancient but not dated—it spoke directly to his experience of a world where people saw things so differently. The questions were old; the relevance was new."

by Dumu The Void March 8, 2026

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Classic Kinda Move

When someone says one thing but does the opposite shortly after, in a way that feels insincere, deceptive, or even a bit manipulative. It’s the kind of behavior that comes across as snake-like, showing a clear disregard for the trust or understanding built in the prior conversation.

Person 1: "Hey Kinda, you want to play video games later?"
Kinda: “hello, won't be availabale today sorry”
An hour later, Person 1 sees Kinda online, playing a game with other people.

Person 1: classic Kinda Move

by bruhdotjpeg December 6, 2024

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