Jean-François Lyotard (1924–98) was a French philosopher, sociologist, and literary theorist known for his contributions to postmodernism and critique of grand narratives in knowledge and society.
Born in Versailles, France, Lyotard studied philosophy at the Sorbonne, earning his agrégation (1950.) He initially taught in Algeria, engaging in anti-colonial movements. In the 1960s, he joined the University of Paris X (Nanterre) and later Paris VIII (Vincennes–Saint-Denis,) influencing critical theory and continental philosophy. His ideas shaped poststructuralism, challenging notions of truth, knowledge, and representation. He held academic positions at Johns Hopkins University, the University of California, and Emory University, contributing to philosophy, aesthetics, and political theory.
His seminal work, The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge (1979,) introduced postmodernism, arguing that scientific and philosophical metanarratives had lost credibility. Other influential books include Discourse, Figure (1971,) Libidinal Economy (1974,) The Differend: Phrases in Dispute (1983,) and The Inhuman: Reflections on Time (1988.) His final book, Postmodern Fables (1997,) explored art, politics, and philosophy.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Jean-Francois Lyotard
Knowledge is and will be produced in order to be sold, it is and will be consumed in order to be valorized in a new production: in both cases, the goal is exchange. Knowledge ceases to be an end in itself, it loses its use-value.
—Jean-Francois Lyotard
Topics: Knowledge
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