Modern Critical Problem Domain

This dissertation centers upon the question domain of modernity criticism, thoroughly explaining the sociological theories of Karl Marx and Weber and making a systematic comparison between their theories.Attempting to make an overall study rather than repeating the previous partial investigations, this dissertation takes modernity criticism as the common question domain of Karl Marx's and Weber's theories, and it makes full use of their major works in every period instead of a certain idea in one period or a certain conclusion in one work to find the logic clue to their theoretical development, The author argues that the question domain of modernity criticism includes four questions: ontological foundation; ideological criticism; reification of social relationship; reification of production process.A comparatives study is conducted between Marx and Weber accordingly. Marx regards modernity as the unification of social existence and social ideology and reveals the ontological foundation of modernity.In Marx's view, the production mode of material goods is the basis of existence and development of human society, hence he explains social life materialistically. His critique of modernity starts along the approach of political economics critique.Ideology is the mere conceptual copy of modernity's social existence and historical materialism proves the falsity of ideology through revealing its essence. Political economics critique analyzes the origin of modern fetishism. Marx approaches the question of modernity from the ontology of social relation and considers modernity as a social relationship. The criticism of modernity's social relation is the focus of his criticism of reification, the process of which involves the logical transformation from alienation to reification. The theoretical core of Marx's critique of reification represents itself as the dialectics of modernity which constitutes the most profound philosophical prescriptive quality of his critique of modernity. Marx not only affirms the decisive role of technology in the production process of modernity, but also regards technology as a means that transcends modernity, and realizes the harm it does to humanity at the same time. Marx tries to transcend the limitation of modernity through the internal transcendence within production technology.Weber approaches the phenomena of modernity by unifying culture and system. He believes that all fields in modern life, material production factors and spiritual cultural factors are of the same importance. One does not determine the other.Whether concerning the system investigation or culture investigation of modernity, Weber's study of modernity follows the idea of rationalization which is the basic dimension in the analyses of political sociology, political economics and religious sociology. The conflict between formal rationality and substantive rationality constitutes the basic framework of his social criticism.Weber defines the essence of modern technology as a formal rationality. Although the principle of value neutrality prevents him from further criticizing modern technology, his worries over the consequences of modernity have already contained the major factors of technical criticism. The comparison between Marx and Weber is not only the basis for our understanding of modern social theories, but also the key to the understanding of the logic process of western Marxist philosophy. More importantly, this comparison will offer us an effective means to reflect on modern life.