Have you heard that language is violence and that science is sexist? Or been told that being obese is healthy, that there is no such thing as biological sex, or that only white people can be racist? Are you confused by these ideas, and do you wonder how they have managed so quickly to challenge the very logic of Western society?

Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay document the evolution of the dogma behind these ideas, from its origins in French postmodernism to its refinement within activist academic fields. Today this dogma is recognisable as much by its effects, such as cancel culture and social-media pile-ons, as by its assertions, which are all too often taken as read: knowledge is a social construct; science and reason are tools of oppression; all human interactions are sites of oppressive power play; and language is dangerous. As they warn, the unchecked proliferation of these beliefs present a threat to liberal democracy.

While acknowledging the need to challenge the complacency of those who think a just society has been fully achieved, Pluckrose and Lindsay break down how often-radical activist scholarship does far more harm than good, not least to those marginalised communities it claims to champion.

Introduction
The book begins by discussing the rise of postmodernism in the late 20th century, which emphasized the subjectivity of knowledge and the role of power in shaping what is considered truth. Pluckrose and Lindsay argue that postmodernism, with its skepticism of grand narratives and objective reality, laid the groundwork for contemporary critical theories.

The Development of Critical Theories
The authors trace the evolution of postmodernism into various strands of critical theory, each focusing on different aspects of identity and social power dynamics. They identify key fields such as Critical Race Theory, Gender Studies, Queer Theory, Disability Studies, and Fat Studies. The book explains how these fields have moved from academic niches to influential roles in broader societal discussions.

The Core Concepts
Pluckrose and Lindsay outline the core concepts of these critical theories, including:

• Social Constructivism: The idea that knowledge and categories of identity are constructed through social processes rather than inherent or objective.
• Power and Knowledge: The belief that knowledge is intertwined with power and is used to maintain oppressive structures.
• Lived Experience: The emphasis on personal experience as a source of knowledge, often privileging the voices of marginalized groups.
• Intersectionality: The idea that different forms of oppression (e.g., race, gender, sexuality) intersect and compound each other.