Why did some postmodernists connect science and technology with oppression?

Postmodernists often challenge the Enlightenment faith that science and technology are inherently progressive forces for human betterment. Instead, they frequently view these fields as suspect instruments of established power that can be used to oppress, marginalize, or silence alternative perspectives.123

This connection to oppression is rooted in several key arguments:

• Historical Destructiveness: Many postmodernists point to the 20th century as evidence that scientific and technological advancement, when unguided by moral restraint, can facilitate mass destruction, such as the killing technologies deployed during World War II.1
• Power-Knowledge Dynamics: Drawing on the work of Michel Foucault, some argue that knowledge is never neutral but is inextricably linked to power. Scientific and human sciences often create "totalizing" systems that categorize individuals as "normal" or "deviant," thereby justifying social control and discipline.14
• Imposition of Conformity: Postmodernists argue that "grand narratives" or totalizing theories—often supported by scientific or rationalist frameworks—impose conformity on society. By claiming to represent universal truth, these discourses effectively suppress the diverse, local, or "little narratives" of marginalized groups.15

Ultimately, postmodernists advocate for recognizing these power dynamics to challenge the unjust hegemony of established discourses.3