The Fate of Modernity: Critique and Innovation in Modern Society Development Concepts

Author: Qi Si
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: The fate of modernity reflects the fate of the survival and development of modern life. In the context of globalization, a re-examination of modernity since the Enlightenment has become a cutting-edge issue and urgent task in contemporary social theory. Whether it is Habermas's "reinvigorating modernity," Lyotard's "rewriting modernity," or Giddens's "reflexive modernity," their common theoretical interests all involve reflection, critique, and rewriting of the contradictions and crises exposed by modernity in the historical evolution of modernization. This inquiry into the fate of modernity indicates that the Enlightenment ideals of modernity and its developmental model no longer fully possess historical rationality and legitimacy, but are instead filled with a problem consciousness of contradictions and crises: the fate of modernity has reached a turning point where contemporary humanity must consciously reflect, critique, and innovate.
This book critiques and innovates the dominant ideology of modernity from the perspective of social philosophy of development, explores the historical trajectory and theoretical logic of modernity, reflects on the ideological contradictions of the utopian planning of Enlightenment modernity, reveals the historical contradictions of modernization practices, and deeply examines the "crisis of modernity" and "global issues" brought about by modernity's developmental ideas and approaches. Grounded in the social critique and theory of social development pioneered by Marx, it fully draws on the multidimensional perspectives of postmodern deconstructive critique, modernist corrective critique, and Marxist dialectical critique. With a new theoretical framework of "civilizational order construction theory," it elaborates the view that a "dialectical modernity" must undergo the baptism of modern civilization while achieving internal transcendence.
Finally, the book explores China's modernity issue and its stance of choice in the context of globalization: "China problem," confront "globalization issues," creatively transform "Chinese tradition," reflect "Chinese experience" of modernization, and create a "Chinese concept" for harmonious development. This holds significant theoretical value and practical meaning for interpreting and developing Marxist social development theory in the context of the new era of globalization, promoting the innovation of China's own social development philosophy, and exploring a new civilizational order for global harmonious development.