Response To The Risk Of Modernity

This paper concerns about living conditions of modern society,mainly focuses on the risk of modernity and takes Giddens' utopian realistic ideas about the risk of modernity as subject matter.Through the study on original works and comparing and analysis, this paper aims to make breakthrough in these aspects: first,how to understand Giddens' ideas about modernity; second, how to cope with Giddens' utopian realistic ideas about the risk of modernity systematically; third, how to position Giddens' utopian realistic ideas in theroy, as well as establish the contemporary value of historical materialism in the process of responding to Giddens' critique of it through the comparative study of Marx's ideas about modernity risk; forth, how to evaluate the modernity theory of Giddens.There are introduction, four chapters and conclusion included.In aspect of Giddens' ideas about modernity,this paper mainly studies on the modernity connotation of Giddens' modernity theory, the development of modernity and the risk of it. With regard to the understanding of Giddens modernity connotation, the common one of domestic researchers is taking Giddens' four institutional dimensions in defining modernity as his ideas about modernity. This paper argues about this understanding cannot fully conclude Giddens' comprehensive understanding of modernity. Giddens' understanding of modernity include two aspects: concept and institution. On the development of modernity, Giddens' proposed that driven by three driving mechanisms( space and time separation,de-domain mechanism and the inherent reflective trait of modernity), modernity has went through two phases:simple modernity and refletive modernity,and is expanding in world wide now. There are three consequences of tradition and the risk of modernity development:the end of nature, the end of tradition and the risk of modernity. Giddens' argued that the development of modernity reduced traditional risk but increased man-made risk with serious consequences which is characterized by unpredictability.In response to modernity risk, Giddens put forward utopian realistic ides.Because Giddens hasn't systematically broaden this idea in any of his works,the systematically study of domestic researchers on this idea is not enough, this paper attempts to analyze it systematically through studying on the Giddens' work in 90s in last century, such as The Consequences of Modernity,Modernity and Self-identity,Beyond left and right-Radical Politics . Future, the third way—Renewal of Social Democracy.Giddens' utopian realistic idea contains two aspects: one is utopian ideal is necessary, the other one is utopian ideal must be based on reality. About utopian ideal,Giddens proposed four dimensions of post—modern that replaced the dimensions of modernity, beyond lack system, humanized technology, multi-level democratic participation and non-military. Meanwhile Giddens pointed out that the key factor is to establish the beyond lack system which replaced capitalist dimension. In aspect of response to realistic, Giddens suggested that the realization of utopian ideal relied on social movements and the boost of authority, therefore, the key point of utopian realistic boost is to achieve authority,but how to achieve it? Giddens believed that with modernity's development till today, the traditional politics which charactorised by liberation was gradually losing its power.the politives today should adopt radical political made which combined liberation politics and living politics and look living politcs as the main aspect.Then Giddens pointed out that the party achieved this combination would achieve authority. In the process of combining his political theory and Britain political reality,Giddens forward his new achievement about social political theory—the third way, and took it as the principles of rebuilding Labor Party, he helped Labor Party regained its ruling position after 18 years in 1997,what neads to be noted is that even if the realistic theory made some sense in Britain history, it doesn't mean Giddens utopian realistic idea could respond to modernity risk well.At the same time of caring the construction of realistic political mode with utopian ideal, Giddens concerned with people's self-identity of modern society. Giddens noted that in traditional societies, it was easy for people to achieve self-identity through the impact of traditional practices and role positioning which formed naturally. As terminated nature and tradition, modernity terminated the corresponding self-identity model of human, which placed human in existential anxiety for lack of security. Then how to reconstruct modern man's self-identity mode? Giddens proposed a way that we should make it through defining ourselves by self-design and self realization with the internal reference system in the context of social living political as well as through reconstructing trusting mode by trusting abstract system and establishing a purely relationship as individuals are open for each other.In order to further deepen the knowlege of Giddens'response to modernity risk and utopian realistic ideas, this paper comparatively studies the responding ideas about modernity of Marx and Giddens. Marx's critique on modern risk is in line with his critiques on capitalism society. Through the critique on Hegel's ideas about civil society and establishing political state based on will, Marx proposed his revolutionary ideas of civil society based on the premise of practice, in the guidance of historical materialism, i.e. to overthrow the capitalist society, to establish communist society and to achieve the complete liberation of human thought. Giddens firmly opposed Marx's response to the idea of modern risk and criticized it. By comparison, this paper argues that Marx's response to modernity risk is a complete response based on the revolutionary premise. In today's age of taking capital logic as the basic existence facts, Marxism still has unsurpassable theory vision and undeniable contemporary value while Giddens's utopian realistic idea is based on the reality of capitalism improvement ideas, thus is unable to fundamentally change capital logic.Through the dual character of the Enlightenment, Giddens's modernity theory which is mainly about responding to modernity risks not only warns people in modernity risks but also design rational ideas to cope with risks. The utopian realistic ideas he proposed aimed at mankind's continued survival, reflecting the pragmatism of positive response to risks and an optimism attitude of overcoming risks. It is worth of an in-depth study in view of human survival as it warns risks and makes an explorative response to risks.