The Research On Ulrich Beck’s Theory Of The Risk Society

Ulrich Beck observed in the modernization process, although the productivity ofscience and technology to flourish, but the risk of its derivatives was menacing, includingthe growing shortage of non-renewable resources, degradation of the global environmentdrastically reduce the forest area, large area of desertification, air pollution, even in thecontext of globalization, will produce a new international inequality, financial crises, ethnicconflicts.Evolution of the concept of develops along with development of society, itexperienced germination,formation,development. In16th Century Trade boom period, therisk present the germination. In the1760s to the1840s during the formation of the conceptof risk. Beck known it as the "first modernization of risk." With the development ofproductivity, industrial mass production, the risk of evolving concept. The first modern riskgradually evolved into the second modernization risks, and for the first time and having thedifferent characteristics of modern risk, the risk of this period include ecological risk,nuclear risk, technology risk, financial risks. Risks tend to lag behind and irreparableconsequences, losses caused incalculable, and even humans will be devastating.Postmodernism as a modern crisis theory, profoundly criticized the Enlightenmentrationality and modern science and technology. It is an entirely new perspective on thecrisis of modernity with a reflection, although not consciously use of risk or risk society,but involve the relevant content. It abandoned the theory of traditional social developmentand social development of blind optimism, and have the spirit of reflection and criticism.Baker and postmodern thinkers were arguing vehemently with the collision theory ofideology. He recognized that postmodern theory has limitations, learn their lessons, moderninterior structural break is the logical starting point proposed construction of reflexivemodernization and thus the risk of social theory.Beck’s theory of risk society has two characteristic themes: risk and individualization.In the process of defining risk, due to the lack of scientific rationality and rational thinkingsociety, the public and experts lead to conflict, between experience and reason. Capitalistsociety is undergoing an evolution, namely the transition from class society to the risksociety. In this process of social change, risk distribution relationship between logic and thelogic of the distribution of wealth, with the development of society and the changes takingplace in the corresponding.Beck believes that individualization is risk society of structural feature. Labor marketprovides power for the individual process. Although individualization make people freefrom the shackles of traditional industrial society, but slso bound by the labour maket. While the new show restraint among the people, but individual cultural beliefs but catalyzethe kind of individual self-control-the desire of a "live for themselves", that is"self-culture." For risk society, Beck tailored way to explore, mainly reflected in threeaspects, namely, the second enlightenment, breaking the political construction andcompensate for sub-scientific rationality and social rationality between.Beck’s theory of risk society not only for the development of modern westerndeveloped countries have a warning, but also has a warning for the country and reference.However, this theory also has some limitations, Baker stressed the risk of unpredictable,making it the theory tends to fatalism. In addition, the individual will replace the class tobecome a sign of social stratification, this view is arbitrary. Although individual candescribe the characteristics of the second modernity, but it just changes the field of culture.Is an economic category, the class can not replace individual class essence, can not expressthis more complex and diverse social independence.Beck has received the historical materialism in social consciousness with relativeindependence inspired, he wants to use the relative independence of risk awareness, andpromote social progress. He believes that the fundamental concept of risk it is natural endview of the content. But he ignored the two prerequisites: First, the "the priority of nature"in modern development, there is no change; secondly, in the modern development,"therules of mandatory" there is still significant. Left the two prerequisites will lead to naturalend view of the discussion tends to be abstract, ahistorical direction.