New Discourses Twenty-First Century Woke—Left and Right | James Lindsay
Dec 19, 2025
Dive into the evolution of 'woke' thinking as James Lindsay contrasts the Woke Left's egalitarianism with the Woke Right's reactionary hierarchy. He explores how the shift from material to social conditions has redefined political narratives and perceptions. The discussion delves into postmodernism as a post-truth paradigm, the rise of identity Marxism, and the impact of critical pedagogy. Lindsay also warns about the radicalization of youth online and critiques the convergence of post-liberal ideologies on both the left and right.
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Woke As A Socio-Gnostic Movement
- Woke is a socio-gnostic awakening that turns alienation into class-like identity and seeks systemic overthrow.
- On the left it pushes egalitarianism; on the right it becomes a rigid, pseudo-traditional reaction.
Postmodernism As Post-Truth
- Postmodernism is essentially post-truth: narratives, images, and perceptions replace universal facts.
- That makes interpretation and power over narratives primary, not empirical verification.
From Material To Social Production
- The 21st-century shift moves from material production to social production: we are produced by social conditions and interpretations.
- Subjective impact and perception trump intent or material fact in this worldview.