Postmodernists deny the possibility of grand theory building not because they don’t theorise at all, but because they are skeptical of universal, totalizing explanations that claim to explain all of society, history, or human behavior. Here’s why:

🧠 Core Reasons Why Postmodernists Deny Theory Building

1. Skepticism of Meta-Narratives (Lyotard)

• Postmodernists like Jean-François Lyotard argue that “meta-narratives” (e.g., Marxism, functionalism, positivism) claim to provide a single truth that explains everything.
• Instead, postmodernists believe society is fragmented, plural, and constantly shifting—no single theory can capture its complexity.

📌 “Incredulity towards metanarratives.” – Lyotard

2. Rejection of Objectivity

• Postmodernists deny that objective knowledge is possible.
• Theories often claim to be neutral, but postmodernists argue that all knowledge is situated and value-laden—produced from a particular standpoint (e.g., Eurocentric, patriarchal, class-biased).

3. Fluidity of Identity and Society

• Theorists like Baudrillard and Foucault highlight how:
  • Identities are not fixed (e.g., gender, class, race).
  • Power is diffuse and doesn’t operate from a single center.
• Therefore, rigid theoretical frameworks are too narrow to accommodate this fluidity and diversity.

4. Focus on Micro-Narratives

• Postmodernism prefers local, contextual “petit récits” (small stories) over universal theories.
• Instead of general laws, it values individual experiences, discourses, and subjective meanings.