Review of Contemporary Western Social Thought

Author: Huang Jiayao, Chen Xinlai (editors)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Social trends possess social resonance. Since they are guided by a certain ideology and are closely tied to people's social psychology in expressing the emotions and aspirations of a certain group, they can be recognized and accepted by specific strata or groups within a certain field or scope. The direct theoretical effect of social trends is related to their goal-oriented value orientation. Only when an idea aligns closely with the goals pursued by a substantial number of social members and attracts the attention of a significant portion of the population can it become an attractive social trend. Even negative or reactionary trends may, to some extent, attract people due to their deceptive nature. Social trends also have social influence. As a spiritual force, social trends do not merely passively reflect the phenomena of social life. Their resonant characteristics enable them to exert a profound impact on social development. Negative social trends can disrupt people's thinking, undermine social stability, and bring adverse effects to society, while progressive social trends can enhance ideological cohesion, guide social progress, and drive the development of society. Based on our understanding of the fundamental characteristics of social trends, we believe that in the context of the 21st century, it is necessary to objectively and dialectically introduce contemporary Western social trends with significant influence to college students.