Commercialization of knowledge
The irony of knowledge is that those who do not have financial capability will not get it. The author states, "The relationship of the suppliers and users of knowledge to the knowledge they supply and use is now tending, and will increasingly tend, to assume the form already taken by the relationship of commodity producers and consumers to the commodities they produce and consume - that is, the form of value." The reader realizes that knowledge is produced by suppliers, and it is sold to the consumers who have the financial capability to purchase it. The author continues to write, "Knowledge is and will be produced to be sold, it is and will be consumed in order to be valorized in a new production: in both cases, it is exchanged. ' Knowledge ceases to be an end in itself; it loses its "use-value."
The irony of learning
The goal of learning is to deliver educational value to promote economic growth, political administration, and technology advancement, among other positive attributes. Ironically, modern learning circulates along the same line of commerce and money. Learning is commercialized, and profit is given priority as opposed to the value of education. The author writes, "It is not hard to visualize! gaming circulating along the same lines as money, instead of for its "educational" value or political (administrative, diplomatic, military) importance; the pertinent distinction would no longer be between knowledge and ignorance, but rather, as is the case with money, between "payment knowledge " and "investment knowledge."
The irony of scientific knowledge
Scientific inventions and technological developments in the postmodern society makes one think that there is no other form of knowledge except science. Over-reliance on science and technology to solve human problems is becoming rampant every day. Ironically, science only focuses on inventions but not on morality and other ancient forms of knowledge. The author writes, "But these truisms are fallacious. In the first place, scientific knowledge does not represent the totality of knowledge; it has always existed in addition to, and in competition and conflict with, another kind of knowledge, which I will call narrative in the interests of simplicity (its characteristics will be described later)."
The irony of science legitimization
The conceptualization of science is meant to help in solving human problems. Ironically, scientific knowledge had been hijacked by powerful nations to gain control over other countries. Powerful nations are in possession of harmful technologies that put the entire globe at risk. Consequently, the current status of scientific innovations is subordinated to the prevailing powers than ever. The author writes, "When we examine the current status of scientific knowledge at a time when science seems more completely subordinated to the prevailing powers than ever before and, along with the new technologies, is in danger of becoming a major stake in their conflicts - the question of double legitimation, far from receding into the background, necessarily comes to the fore."
The irony of machines
Human beings have entrusted machines with human functions in postmodern society, such as making decisions and deciding what is to be done. Ironically, despite the devices having intelligence and performing tasks as programmed, they cannot always make the right decisions. The author says, "For brevity's sake, suffice it to say that functions of regulation, and therefore of reproduction, are being and will be further withdrawn from administrators and entrusted to machines." Lyotard continues to write, "Increasingly, the central question is becoming who will have access to the information these machines must have in storage to guarantee that the right decisions are made."
