The Postmodern Condition

The Postmodern Condition
	Cover of the French edition
Author	Jean-François Lyotard
Original title	La condition postmoderne: rapport sur le savoir
Translators	Geoffrey Bennington and Brian Massumi
Language	French
Subjects	Postmodern culture, technology, epistemology
Published	1979 (Les Éditions de Minuit); 1984 (University of Minnesota Press, in English);
Publication place	France
Media type	Print

The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge (French: La condition postmoderne: rapport sur le savoir) is a 1979 book by the philosopher Jean-François Lyotard, in which the author analyzes the notion of knowledge in postmodern society as the end of 'grand narratives' or metanarratives, which he considers a quintessential feature of modernity. Lyotard introduced the term 'postmodernism', which was previously only used by art critics, into philosophy and social sciences, with the following observation: "Simplifying to the extreme, I define postmodern as incredulity towards metanarratives".^[1]^[2]^[3] Originally written as a report on the influence of technology in exact sciences, commissioned by the Conseil des universités du Québec, the book was influential.^[4]^[5] Lyotard later admitted that he had a "less than limited" knowledge of the science he was to write about, deeming The Postmodern Condition his worst book.

^ Lyotard, Jean-François (1979). La condition postmoderne: rapport sur le savoir. Paris: Minuit.
^ Anderson, Perry (1998). The Origins of Postmodernity. London/New York: Verso, pp. 24–27.
^ Quotation from the 1984 (reprint 1997); English translation by Geoffrey Bennington and Brian Massumi, University of Minnesota Press.
^ Bruneault, Frédérick (Autumn 2004). "Savoir scientifique et légitimation", Revue PHARES vol. 5.
^ Lyotard, Jean-Francois (1979). "Les problèmes du savoir dans les sociétés industrielles les plus développées". Quebec: Conseil des Universités. Original report available online at: http://www.cse.gouv.qc.ca/FR/Publications_CUniv/

[Lyotard-1] Lyotard, Jean-François (1979). La condition postmoderne: rapport sur le savoir. Paris: Minuit.

[Anderson-2] Anderson, Perry (1998). The Origins of Postmodernity. London/New York: Verso, pp. 24–27.

[3] Quotation from the 1984 (reprint 1997); English translation by Geoffrey Bennington and Brian Massumi, University of Minnesota Press.

[Bruneault-4] Bruneault, Frédérick (Autumn 2004). "Savoir scientifique et légitimation", Revue PHARES vol. 5.

[5] Lyotard, Jean-Francois (1979). "Les problèmes du savoir dans les sociétés industrielles les plus développées". Quebec: Conseil des Universités. Original report available online at: http://www.cse.gouv.qc.ca/FR/Publications_CUniv/

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