Political Consequences of Social Constructivism
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18012/arf.v11i2.68769Keywords:
Social Constructivism, Philosophy of Science, New social movements, Identity Politics, MinoritiesAbstract
The so-called 'New Social Movements' (feminist, LGBTQIA+, and racialist) have largely abandoned liberal and Marxist traditions and embraced relativist theses, aligning themselves with what is currently called 'Identity Politics'. The main theses of these groups have a strong influence from Social Constructivism in Sociology of Science and end up generating consequences opposite to those intended when applied to politics. We identify seven of these consequences here: the dissolution of the concept of active subject, the justification of authoritarianism and political violence, anti-realism, the transformation of the struggle for changing reality into a struggle for changing language, the delegitimization of humanity's cultural achievements, the dissolution of criteria for validating knowledge and the justification of religious fundamentalism. A critical discussion of the theoretical bases of this type of political action is necessary, as well as the already visible consequences of this in society before they cause a greater setback in the rights of minorities.
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