Solomon Among the Postmoderns

Okay. I was skeptical about reading another book about Postmodernism. After all, transmodernism is well underway. However, Caleb convinced me to read Solomon Among the Postmoderns. It has been an enjoyable read.

Those familiar with Leithart will immediately recognize that he is from the Reformed tradition. However, he does not allow that tradition to “take over” a reasoned, culturally savvy reading of Postmodernism. Of particular interest was his grasp of the Renaissance and its contribution to pomo thought. In a remarkable claim, he points out that Francis Bacon actually had theological roots for his science, roots that extended into Christian charity, not theology proper.

Liethart offers a cultural-historical reading of pomo that fits nicely along side Smith’s Who’s Afraid of Postmodernism?. I found his conclusion, the Solomonic alternative to Pomo, intriguing but disappointingly shallow in its development. Hopefully, he will take it further.