On Zygmunt Bauman’s "Liquid Modernity"

With a Marxist perspective to examine "Liquid modernity" theory, the main intention of this thesis is to clarify Zygmunt Bauman’s profound reflection on "the current phase of modernity", and how truly the reflection reveals the situation of human existence today, as well as new challenges and future possibilities this situation brings. This paper includes the following contents: we begin with how the Liquid Modernity are found, and then analysis the basic conditions of Liquid Modernity, as well as critically discuss the serious consequences caused by Liquid Modernity, discussed Bauman’s response and solutions for the Liquid modernity problems. Finally it is necessary for us to instructions to "theoretical essence" and "useful insights" of this thought. Basing on the comprehensive study of Liquid Modernity theory, we make judgments and prove to the theoretical issues in the study of Bauman as follow:First, contrary to popular viewpoint, Bauman is not a postmodern theorist, but a modern theorist. Second, although the themes of Bauman is varied, but it is apparently not really "break" or a major shift. Third, Bauman had never deviated from Marx, as a typical new Polish Marxist, Bauman’s Liquid modernity theory is a continuation of Marx’s critique of modernity.Therefore, this paper is divided into five parts:The first chapter, "discovered" the Liquid Modernity, it is intended to clarify a joint of development in Bauman’s thought, we want to show the period of he found a different modernity. Bauman prompted this conclusion for three reasons:The first is the intellectual’s role changed from legislators to interpreters; secondly, the means of social control shifted from the "panoptical" surveillance to market temptations; finally, it is essential for the transformation of human life strategies, which means to be changed of the concept and nature of time.In the second chapter we discussed the basic situation of the Liquid Modernity. First, Liquid modern society is a consumer society, consumer replaced the producer has become the basic identity of contemporary residents. The liquid modern world is also an individualized society. Individualized rooted in shift of social control means, and supported by consumer life. The results of individualization are not universal freedom, but an impossible task of "the individual response and resolve system conflicts". Another one is the Globalization, The essence of globalization which is globalization of the economy, and the other side of globalization is localization of politics. If capital flows faster and more widely, politics is weaker, and capital is not restricted. The moral confusion is the last problem. Because of fragmentation of time, multicultural and the flooding of significances, the moral are in a state of disorder. However, the lack of effective standards is not only the biggest trap, but also the rebirth opportunity of moral.The third chapter called the survival situation of Liquid Modernity, it focuses on the current conditions of human life, is a consequence of the basic realities of the previous chapter. These Consequences reflected in three aspects:firstly, Inequality of mankind, worsening polarization, the new poor become completely redundant; secondly is the dilapidated of human relationship. As lonely consumers, they fall into the scam of individualized, Including to the prevalence of virtual relationships, contemporary human coexistence relationship was completely destroyed; thirdly, it is the widespread fear and anxiety. unsicherheit (unstable, unsafe, and unreliable) is the essential characteristic of Liquid Modernity, it is also the source of fear and anxiety, thus, the liquid modern society is a world full of fear and anxiety.The fourth chapter is outlet of Liquid Modernity, in which we discuss the response and solutions for Liquid modern world which have been provided by Bauman. To improve the living conditions of human beings, the primary point is lies in the reconstruction of moral, appeal to the moral responsibility for others; repair the relationship between human beings, and rebuild of human solidarity. On the other hand we need find a political solution:reengineering agora (public space), to build global political, and guarantee a basic income, which is Bauman’s proposal for present world.The fifth chapter is evaluation and enlightenment of the Liquid Modernity. Depending on comparison with the various discourses of modernity and Marxism, we have come to the orientation and evaluation of Liquid Modernity:the Liquid Modernity is an essential theory of "the current phase of modernity"; therefore, it is a modern theory; in fact Bauman never go to the post-modern stance, his thoughts had not any "break", and he did not deviate from Marx. In conclusion, the Liquid Modernity theory is a continuation of Marx’s critique of modernity. The important enlightenment for us which provided by the Liquid modernity thought is:we should strengthen the political construction, social welfare and strengthen moral construction.