The Sokal hoax was effectively a "bitch-slap" to certain philosophical camps that had devolved into a very deep rut of obscurantism. I think that Sokol was perhaps interested in what was going on in those circles but became repulsed by the incomprehensibility of the texts at the time. You really have to (try to) read Derrida, Foucault or Lacan to truly appreciate how FAR from any notion of clarity these dominant philosophers had come.

I take the Sokol hoax as a warning, not just to the humanities, but to any field. At the end of the day if you can't explain the essence of what you're doing to smart 12 year old, you don't understand it yourself and you should be prepared for someone to call "bullshit" like Sokal did.