Why Fish Don’t Exist

I started reading without any prior knowledge of David Starr Jordan or the author. What on earth was going on with these two strange specimens of humanity? And just before reaching the last few pages, I let out a heavy sigh. Does the ghost of postmodernism still linger on? But fortunately, thanks to those remaining few pages, my misgivings were dispelled. Right, not every person’s incomprehensible opinion in this world needs to be respected. “terminate with extreme prejudice.”

What follows is GPT’s answer. It’s better than mine.

Question

Critique the essay “Why Fish Don’t Exist” from the perspective of postmodernism.

Answer

The essay “Why Fish Don’t Exist” is a work written by Lulu Miller, a science historian and science journalist, that critically reflects on the ways humans classify and understand the world through both scientific facts and personal life experience. Critiquing this essay from a postmodernist perspective is meaningful in that the work raises questions about traditional truth, essence, and systems of classification.

Elements of Postmodernist Critique

1. The relativity of truth: Postmodernism denies the existence of absolute truth or universal reason, emphasizing that truth can be interpreted differently depending on context. In “Why Fish Don’t Exist” as well, the author argues that the very attempt to classify nature scientifically is nothing more than an artificial human invention, conveying the message that the truth we believe in is not fixed but subject to change. From this perspective, the essay can be said to be a postmodernist narrative that deconstructs the absoluteness of established scientific truth and objectivity.

2. The deconstruction of classification and boundaries: Postmodernism places importance on the critique of binary thinking and classification systems. Lulu Miller cites the case of the scientist David Starr Jordan, whose attempts at a biological classification system ultimately ended in failure, to show how futile it is to classify the complexity and diversity of nature within a single system. This vividly reveals the ambiguity and indistinctness of boundaries that postmodernism speaks of, highlighting the point that reality cannot be understood through simple classification.

3. Skepticism toward authority: Postmodernism doubts established authority and power, viewing all authority as reflecting a particular ideology or power structure. In “Why Fish Don’t Exist”, Jordan, who is portrayed as a representative of scientific authority, instead commits errors, and through the failure of his classification system the false nature of scientific authority is revealed. This implies that even scientific truth is something created within power structures, presenting a critical perspective on traditional authority.

4. The polyphony of the narrative: Rather than a single central narrative, postmodernism values a polyphonic narrative in which diverse voices and stories coexist. In this essay, scientific discoveries, historical events, and the author’s personal experiences intersect as the story unfolds, demonstrating a postmodernist characteristic that leaves open the possibility of multiple interpretations rather than a single truth or interpretation.

5. The fluidity of identity: Postmodernism argues that identity is not fixed but is fluid, changing according to social and cultural context. In “Why Fish Don’t Exist” as well, through personal experience and scientific narration, the author implies that identity is not fixed but is constantly transformed and reconstructed by various factors. This is especially shown in how her identity is transformed as her personal experience interlocks with scientific discussion.

Conclusion

“Why Fish Don’t Exist” reveals the limitations of traditional science and classification systems, dealing with the major critical themes of postmodernism. This essay exposes how scientific truth and classification are artificially formed and shaped by power structures, while emphasizing how fragile and fluid the boundaries and distinctions made by humans are. In this respect, the work can serve as a fine example of postmodernist critique.

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