The Impact of Postmodernism on Pedagogy
The Impact of Postmodernism on Pedagogy

Summary/Abstract: The effort of the present paper focuses on revealing the impact of postmodernism on pedagogy. Acknowledging the historical events that facilitated and opened the possibility for postmodernism to take root within the social system, including the educational process. It is the “Aletheia” of postmodernism that is inevitably destined to alter the pedagogical praxis in such a manner that pedagogy itself becomes unrecognizable. As a reaction to constructivism, the deconstruction/post-structuralist approach has disclosed the weakness of the human mind when it comes to understanding the relationship between message and meaning. This fundamental disruption has fragmented and, in some cases, even collapsed the very core of our notion of “values”. The fact that statements such as: “the true purpose of pedagogy is the cultivation of virtue” have become emptied of meaning is fueled by the current show of their fragility. Thus, in response, pedagogy must cultivate a committed skepticism in relation to its own foundations; resulting a decentralized pedagogy that does not encourage domineering authority and inherently obedient relationships. Therefore, it becomes crucial the process of redefining authority as co-participative authority and emphasizing the facilitator-helper side of the teacher's role.

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