The postmodern movement and the new schools of cultural criticism have developed a consensus stance toward the nature of truth and its know ability–one that differs sharply from the consensus of the sciences. This simmering conflict erupted recently when physicist Alan Sokal succeeded in having his long parody of postmodern criticism published as a serious scientific article in a leading journal of social criticism. Sokal’s eventual revelation of the hoax resulted in a storm of publicity.

One side effect of Sokal's hoax was the beginning of correspondence between Sokal and UIUC's distinguished cultural critic, Professor of English Michael Bérubé. Sharing many progressive political views, Sokal and Bérubé will explore their areas of philosophical conflict and their common ground in this CAS/MillerComm discussion. A general discussion will follow their presentations.

Cosponsored by: College of Engineering, Department of English, Department of History, Department of Physics, Department of Mathematics, Department of Philosophy, Department of Sociology, Department of Speech Communications, Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, LAS/Humanities Council