Professional paper

On Simplifying Modernity: Criticizing Bauman and Giddens

Valerio Baćak

Abstract

Since the very beginnings of sociological theory, modernity has been its key concept. We have, however, recently been witnessing the proliferation of theories about a new kind of modernity, which we have, according to many authors, entered only lately. This paper discusses the most prominent among these modernity theories, namely those of British sociologists Anthony Giddens and Zygmunt Bauman. Their elaboration of the so called late modernity is based on the simplification of social reality, reducing it to a mere set of binary oppositions. This text’s critique is directed precisely towards this simplification. The basic conclusions about modernity produced by these two authors, their convergence points as well as the political, cultural and intellectual influences exerted on them are also elaborated. The origin of this analysis goes back to critical texts on modernity theories produced by US sociologist Jeffrey Alexander, who was the first to warn about binary oppositions being the main methodological instrument of contemporary sociological theorists.

Keywords

modernity; Anthony Giddens; Zygmunt Bauman; binary oppositions; individualization; insecurity; Jeffrey Alexander

Hrčak ID:

9894

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/9894

Publication date:

16.2.2007.

Article data in other languages: croatian

Visits: 3.657 *