The article was published, which Sokal argued showed that the journal’s editors lacked scientific rigor and were willing to publish nonsense as long as it used the right postmodern jargon. 4. Key Takeaways
Intellectual Impostures (published as Fashionable Nonsense in the US) is a 1998 book by physicists Alan Sokal and Jean Bricmont that critiques the use of scientific concepts and terminology by several prominent French postmodernist philosophers. 1. Core Purpose and Argument Intellectual Impostures: postmodern philosopher...
The authors argue that postmodern philosophers often use scientific jargon to intimidate readers and add an air of authority to their work, even though the usage is mathematically or physically nonsensical. The article was published, which Sokal argued showed
The authors specifically state they are not criticizing all philosophy, but rather the specific "abuse" of scientific terminology. Targets of the Critique
Critiqued for applying poetic language to mathematical theory.
The book aims to defend "rationality" and scientific standards against what they view as a relativistic, "anything goes" approach to knowledge. 2. Targets of the Critique