Aperspectival madness and the rise of authoritarianism.

Over two decades ago, in the book Sex, Ecology, Spirituality, I summarized this postmodern disaster with the term “aperspectival madness,” because the belief that there is no truth—that no perspective has universal validity (the “aperspectival” part)—when pushed to extremes, as postmodernism was about to do, results in massive self-contradictions and ultimate incoherency (the “madness” part). And when aperspectival madness (“no truth”) infects the leading-edge of evolution, evolution’s capacity for self-direction and self-organization is bound to collapse.

Wilber, Ken. Trump and a Post-Truth World (p. 8). Shambhala. Kindle Edition. 

The postmodern idea that “truth” is socially constructed and time bound to a certain place in history leaves us in a state of what Wilber calls “narcissistic nihilism” in which every person can have their own truth which is as good as everyone else’s. Is this idea “true?” If there is no truth, because truth is time bound and socially constructed then this idea from postmodernism is itself not true or if it seems so now at this place and time, will change as time marches on.

This philosophy of postmodernism has created a culture of post -truth which creates a society of very high anxiety which is ripe for authoritarianism where the strong man (person) will save us because (s)he alone knows the truth and the way. If we put our trust in him/or her our sense of security is restored and we’d rather feel safe than know the truth.