Everyday Reflection: The Master Narrative

11

11 unread replies.

11

11 replies.

French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard described the demise of

universal truth in the postmodern era in ?The Postmodern Condition?.

Lyotard included the term “master narrative” to help explain this

demise.

Generally, a master narrative refers to an explanation (or narrative)

that is thought to encompass all truths, transcends doubt and, for all

intents and purposes, cannot be challenged. It is a narrative

attempting to explain the smaller narratives of historical meaning,

experience, or knowledge associated with it. The master narrative

offers a society legitimation through the anticipated completion of an

(as yet unrealized) master idea.