Theme 1 Introduction Discursive Formation of European Modernity

Theme 1. Introduction: Discursive Formation of European Modernity Readings to class: ØRundell J. Modernity, Enlightenment, Revolution and Romanticism: Creating Social Theory, in Handbook of Social Theory. Ed. by G. Ritzer and B. Smart. London: SAGE Publications, 2001, Chapter 2, pp. 13 -29 ØHabermas J. The Philosophical Discourse of Modernity. Cambridge (Mass. ): MIT Press, 1987, Lecture I, pp. 1 -22 ØWeber M. The Uniqueness of Western Civilization, in Max Weber on Capitalism, Bureaucracy and Religion. A Selection of Texts. Ed. by S. Andreski. London, 1984, pp. 21 -29 ØDurkheim E. The Principles of 1789 and Sociology, in Emile Durkheim on Morality and Society. Selected Writings. The University of Chicago Press, 1973, pp. 34 -42

Rational Knowledge of Society u u Ø Ø General and elementary foundation of ‘Studies in European Societies’ is a view of Europe as an object for scientific research Scientific approach presupposes: a) theoretical argumentation – development of models of human reasoning and behavior; b) empirical evidence – observations of people’s life

Rational Knowledge vs. Traditional Knowledge u u Appeals to reason, human nature and facts Produces instructions for communities u u Appeals to faith, sacred texts, and ancient thinkers Produces guides for authorities

Consciousness of Europe as Modernity u u Ø Ø Ø Rational knowledge (based on theoretical argumentation and empirical evidence) of society emerged in the specific sociocultural environment Concept of Modern Age (appeared in the 16 th c. ) related view of social life in Europe to: Geographic Discoveries Renaissance and Reformation Idea of Modernity (arisen in the early 19 th c. ) related interpretations of European societies to: Industrialization and Capitalism Revolutions and Democracy Enlightenment and Secular Culture

Geographic Discoveries u u u Expeditions from Portugal, Spain, and Netherlands reached Sub-Saharian Africa by 1450, Americas and India by 1500, China and Japan by 1520, Australia by 1600 The Medieval World model ‘Christian West vs. Muslim East’ was shifted by the new model Eurocentric one The Europe became the ‘Old World’ as a civilization core for ‘New Worlds’ just then discovered

Renaissance and Reformation u u Ideology of the 15 -16 th centuries humanists: the bright Antiquity (Ancient Greece and Rome) was interrupted by the obscure Middle Age, and the Modern Age begins with a renewal of ancient virtues replacing medieval barbarism Renaissance is the aesthetically performed establishment of bourgeois mode of life in contrast with the feudal mode Ideology of the 16 -17 th centuries protestants: initial pure Christianity was corrupted by the Catholic church, and the Modern Age begins with a renewal of the Testament pattern of community life replacing the papal hierarchical order Reformation is the religiously performed establishment of bourgeois mode of life in contrast with the feudal mode

Industrialization u u u Mechanized production introduced by 1750 New technologies utilized by 1850: steam-engine, railways, electricity etc. New organizational forms by 1900: profound division of labor, corporations, professions, scientific management Growth of productivity and expansion of market relationships Social problems: exploitation, poverty, marginality

Industrial Revolution and Mass Production take-off

Revolutions u Ø Ø Ø u u Three revolutionary ‘waves’: about 1640 (England, France, Habsburgs Empire) since 1789 (France and rest of Europe) 1848 (France and rest of Europe) Extension of political rights Nation-states formation Political institutions establishment: politicians, elections, government, parliament, parties Social problems: class conflict, demagogy, civil war and terror

Bourgeois Revolutions and Mass Democracy take-off

Enlightenment u u u Intellectual movement for rational world-view, secular culture and education of people emerged about 1700 Education expansion in the 19 th century Cultivation of the individual as rational actor oriented to personal autonomy, creativity and social responsibility National cultures formation Social problems: crisis of traditional morality, utilitarian ethos, “poor” content of mass culture

Educational Revolution and Mass Culture take-off

Conceptualizations of Sociocultural Shift u Philosophy of History: Civil(ized) Human Condition u Political Economy: Nation’s Wealth u Social Science: Social Order

Conceptualizations of Problems, Conflicts, Debates u natural condition vs. civil(ized) condition u state vs. civil society u protectionism vs. free competition u order vs. progress u solidarity vs. individualism

Patterns of Discourses u Dilemmas provide framework of reasoning and paths of argumentation about social, cultural, political, and economic issues u Dilemmas represent in the intellectual domain sociocultural shift from traditional society to modern(ized) society u Modernity as a type of social life is revealed and established through discourses of philosophy of history, political economy, and social science

Max Weber about Western Civilization Rationalization Western Civilization

Emile Durkheim about Ideology of French Revolution Theory of Modern Society

Conceptual and Methodological Basis of Studies in European Societies Distinction Modernity vs. Traditionality

Studies in European Societies u Studies in European Societies = Studies in Modernity u ‘European’ geographically means ‘between Atlantic and Ural’ u ‘European’ socioculturally means ‘civilized and modern’

‘Modernity’ means intellectually: scientism, rationalism, empiricism u aesthetically: expression of subjective world-view, originality of style, publicity u politically: nation, democracy, civil rights, ideology u economically: industrial production, capitalism, market u

Studies in European Societies u Classical Foundations: Civilization and Modernity as points of reference u Recent Developments: Criticisms on Eurocentric and modernist world-view and formation of multicultural and postmodernist discourses