Philosophy professor to compare Enlightenment, postmodern thought

Dr. Stephen Hicks, professor of philosophy at Rockford University, will visit Salve Regina Monday, Feb. 5 to discuss “Postmodernism and the Verdict of History.” Sponsored by the Pell Honors Program, the talk will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Young Building ballroom.

Leading postmodernists argue that the modern Enlightenment project has failed, both in its claimed ideals and their implementation. Has it? In this talk, Hicks will compare the track records of both Enlightenment and postmodern thought in theory and practice.

Hicks is the author of three books: “Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault,” “Readings for Logical Analysis” and “Nietzsche and the Nazis.” He has published widely in academic journals such as Review of Metaphysics and Business Ethics Quarterly, as well as more popular outlets such as The Wall Street Journal.

He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Guelph and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Indiana University. Hicks has been a visiting professor of business ethics at Georgetown University, a visiting fellow at the Social Philosophy and Policy Center in Bowling Green, Ohio, and senior fellow at The Objectivist Center in New York.