Modern And Postmodern Theory 
Paper 2:
Contemporary Modernity Theory and Postmodern Social Theory
Contemporary Sociological Theory
48-302-01
Dr. David Toews
Hannah Acheampong
101888073
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Today we see that most societies are leaning towards a modernist approach. At the same time, modernity has evolved in every aspect of a society. Postmodernity is also present in the world because of its acknowledgment of truth and knowledge. A society cannot be fully modernized, it also must consists of some form of post-modernism. Thus, both theories of modernism and postmodernism can be applied to the real world; modernity is not replaced by post-modernity, however, they work amongst each other. This paper will be analyzing this statement by defining the concepts of contemporary modernity theory and the postmodern social theory. Further analyzed will be the Globalization Theory and the McDonaldization Theory.
Modernity is known to be a sense of social order. It involves a society that is described to be modern with the world changing due to human interventions, an open market economy and the denomination of nation-states. The contemporary modernity theorists believe that “we continue to live in a society that still can best be described as modern about which we can theorize in much the same way that social thinkers have long contemplated society.” (Ritzer, pg. 81) Social thinkers that are relevant in this sense, which have contemplated society in their work, are Max Weber, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Georg Simmel. They are all classical theorists. Their works are based on predictions of the way society will evolve in terms of how it was during their time period, during early 19th century. Their theories concluded that there is evidence of modernity in societies. And these modernist attributes may evolve as the years go by and things change, unless something is done about it.
A theorist who supports the argument of modern theory is Anthony
Contemporary Modernity Theory and Postmodern Social Theory
Contemporary Sociological Theory
48-302-01
Dr. David Toews
Hannah Acheampong
101888073
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Today we see that most societies are leaning towards a modernist approach. At the same time, modernity has evolved in every aspect of a society. Postmodernity is also present in the world because of its acknowledgment of truth and knowledge. A society cannot be fully modernized, it also must consists of some form of post-modernism. Thus, both theories of modernism and postmodernism can be applied to the real world; modernity is not replaced by post-modernity, however, they work amongst each other. This paper will be analyzing this statement by defining the concepts of contemporary modernity theory and the postmodern social theory. Further analyzed will be the Globalization Theory and the McDonaldization Theory.
Modernity is known to be a sense of social order. It involves a society that is described to be modern with the world changing due to human interventions, an open market economy and the denomination of nation-states. The contemporary modernity theorists believe that “we continue to live in a society that still can best be described as modern about which we can theorize in much the same way that social thinkers have long contemplated society.” (Ritzer, pg. 81) Social thinkers that are relevant in this sense, which have contemplated society in their work, are Max Weber, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, and Georg Simmel. They are all classical theorists. Their works are based on predictions of the way society will evolve in terms of how it was during their time period, during early 19th century. Their theories concluded that there is evidence of modernity in societies. And these modernist attributes may evolve as the years go by and things change, unless something is done about it.
A theorist who supports the argument of modern theory is Anthony
References: Kivisto, P. (2008). Illuminating Social Life: Classical and Contemporary Theory Revised. (4th ed.). London: Sage Publications Ltd. Ritzer, G. (2004). Modern Sociological Theory. (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.