Giddens’s Thought Of Social Autonomy

Marxism believes that human is the sum of all social relations,and society provides the necessary materials and space for human survival and development.However,the society doesn`t naturally form and operate on its own.The topics such as "How to manage social life","How to make social life more orderly","Where is the focus of social life management" have always been people’s continuous exploring theme of social governance.The famous contemporary social philosopher Anthony Giddens’ research on the level of social governance is based on the recognition that social autonomy is the means and the final destination of social governance.In his modern reflection theory and structural duality theory,he emphasizes the importance of subject of autonomy by placing social autonomy in the constraints of institutions and cultural identities,which has formed a general theory of social autonomy and further clarified the idea that the realization of social autonomy lies in the reform and development of production methods.Focusing on Giddens’ s idea of social autonomy,the article can be divided into three parts.The first part analyzes the theoretical origin of the idea of social autonomy and the believes that Giddens’ s idea of social autonomy is based on the ideological foundation of historical materialism,it reasonably absorbs and draws on the ideas of society and social governance from thinkers such as Plato and Descartes.It clarifies that social governance can neither rely solely on the single execution of social power,nor can it exaggerate the role of the subject in social governance.Social self-government is an action in which individuals make cultural identity rationally and consciously within the constraints of the social system in a modern context,thereby making autonomous and conscious community-style behavior choices.The second part clarifies the main content of Giddens’ s thought of social autonomy.From a theoretical perspective,Giddens’ s idea of social autonomy is based on the theory of modern reflection and structural duality.On the one hand,it reveals the process of redistributing power and structure.The problem of power is the root of social problems;Subjectivity is the key to the promotion of social autonomy.In the field of social governance,the duality of structure symbolizes the feedback and secondary effect on power.From a practical perspective,Giddens’ social autonomy focuses on surpassing the existing social order of capitalism.Individual autonomy and community autonomy are the two main forms to achieve social autonomy.The third part discusses the realization path of Giddens’ s thought of social autonomy.Giddens believes that the realization of the goal of social self-government must be guaranteed by the most basic practical forces.It must be promoted by external forces and supported by the internal forces of the subject.Giddens not only treat the modern system as the external motive force of social autonomy,but also think cultural identity as the endogenous force of social autonomy.In short,Giddens’ thought of social autonomy reflects the philosophical spirit of Marxism and the basic position of Marxism that he reflects on.It is the embodiment of his scientific attitude to explore and reform the existing order of capitalism.It is one of the significant contents of his utopian realism.