Modernity

In the 17th century there were no cars, no high-quality medicine and most of the Western population believed that a deity created the world. The invention of aeroplanes and the Internet were incredibly far. It does not necessarily sound like a 'modern' era. And yet, it was in 1650 that the period of modernity, as sociologists define it, started.

We will look at this exciting centuries-long period and discuss its main characteristics.

• We will define modernity in sociology.
• We will go through its most important developments.
• Then, we will consider how sociologists of different perspectives think about its end.

Definition of modernity in sociology

Firstly, we should understand the definition of the period of modernity. Modernity in sociology refers to the time period or era of humanity that was defined by scientific, technological, and socioeconomic changes that started in Europe around the year 1650 and ended around 1950.

The French sociologist Jean Baudrillard summarised the development of modern society and a modern world in the following way:

The period of modernity

There is relative agreement on the starting point of modernity, which sociologists identify as 1650.

However, in terms of the end of modernity, sociologists are divided. Some argue that modernity ended around 1950, giving way to post-modernity. Others argue that modern society was replaced by post-modern society only around 1970. And there are sociologists, like Anthony Giddens, who argue that modernity has never ended, it only transformed into what he calls late modernity.

To understand this debate, we will explore the concept of modernity in detail, including late modernity and postmodernity.

Characteristics of modernity

At first glance, we may not think of 'modern' as the best word to describe the period between the 17th and 20th centuries. However, it is important to understand why this is considered to be the period of modernity.

For this, we can look at the key characteristics of modernity that were responsible for the rise of modern society and civilization as we know it today. Some of the main features are outlined below.

The rise of science and rational thought

During this period, the emergence of important scientific discoveries and inventions meant that people increasingly looked to science for answers to the world's problems and phenomena. This signalled a change from previous eras where faith and superstition were the main sources of people's knowledge.

Despite not having all the answers to important questions, there was a general belief that continuous scientific progress could be the answer to society's problems. Due to this, more countries allocated time, money, and resources toward scientific advances and developments.

Fig. 1 - In the period of modernity, people looked to scientific discoveries and inventions for knowledge and solutions.

Individualism

The period of modernity saw a greater intellectual and academic shift towards individualism as the basis for knowledge, thought, and action.

This was a remarkable change from previous eras where individuals' lives, motivations, and actions were largely dictated by external influences of society, such as political and religious institutions. In modernity, there was more personal reflection and exploration of deeper, philosophical questions such as existence and morality.

Individuals had greater freedom to question their motives, thoughts and actions. This was reflected in the work of key thinkers such as René Descartes.

Concepts such as human rights held more importance than before in light of individualism.

However, social structures were rigid and stable and therefore still responsible for shaping people and their behaviours. Individuals were largely seen as products of society, as social structures such as class and gender were still clearly entrenched in society.

Industrialisation, social class, and the economy

The rise of industrialisation and capitalism increased labour production, promoted trade, and enforced social divisions in social classes. As a result, individuals were largely defined by their socioeconomic status.

Generally, individuals were divided into two social classes: those that had ownership of factories, farms, and businesses; and those who sold their time for labour to work in factories, farms, and businesses. Due to the clear social class divide and division of labour, it was common for people to stay in one job for life.

Urbanisation and mobility

The period of modernity saw rapid urbanisation of cities as they grew and became more developed. As a result, more and more people moved to cities and urban areas for better opportunities.

Fig. 2 - Urbanisation is a key component of modernity.

The role of the state

Countries started to see the state play a bigger role, not only in foreign affairs but in everyday governance e.g. through compulsory public education, national health, public housing, and social policies. A central, stable government was an essential feature of a country in the period of modernity.

Inevitably, the growing role of the state saw an increase in respect for hierarchy and centralised control.

Examples of modernity

There are differing opinions on the decline of modernity; namely, whether we are still in a period of modernity, or whether we have moved past it.

We will look at two examples of modernity that bear the names of 'late modernity' and 'second modernity'. Sociologists debate what their importance is and whether the terms should be used at all.

Late modernity

Some sociologists argue that we are in a period of late modernity and reject the notion that we have moved on from modernity altogether.

Anthony Giddens is a key sociologist and a believer in the idea of late modernity. He argues that the main social structures and forces that existed in modernist society continue to shape current society, but that certain 'issues' are less prominent than before.

Globalisation and electronic communications, for example, allow us to broaden social interactions and break down geographical barriers in communication. This removes time and distance constraints and blurs the lines between local and global.

Second modernity

German sociologist Ulrich Beck believed that we are in a period of second modernity.

According to Beck, modernity replaced an agricultural society with an industrial one. Therefore, second modernity has replaced industrial society with an information society, which refers to the interconnection of society using mass telecommunications networks.

• Multidimensional globalisation

• Radicalised/intensified individualisation

• Global environmental crisis

• Gender revolution

• The third industrial revolution

Beck pointed out that second modernity has had incredibly positive impacts on humans, but it also brought its own issues. Environmental threats, global warming, and increased terrorism are only a few of the major problems the world is facing in this era. According to Beck, all of these issues make people insecure and forced to face increasing numbers of risks in their lives.

Therefore, he argued that people in second modernity live in a risk society.

Postmodernity

Some sociologists believe that we are in an era beyond modernity, called postmodernity.

Followers of the theory believe that traditional metanarratives (broad ideas and generalisations about the world) do not fit into contemporary society due to the processes of globalisation, the development of technology, and the rapidly changing world.

Postmodernists argue that society is now more fragmented than ever, and that our identities are made up of many personalised and complex elements. Therefore, civilization today is too different for us to still be in the era of modernity - we are living in an entirely new age.