Modernity and Social Theory

These flashcards cover key concepts and theories related to modernity and social theory from the Enlightenment to contemporary sociological perspectives.

What characterizes modernity according to Enlightenment thought?

A shift from tradition to rationality.

How did Immanuel Kant define the Enlightenment?

As humanity’s emergence from 'self-incurred immaturity' advocating for reason over tradition.

What did Karl Marx argue about capitalism?

That it is structured by exploitation where the bourgeoisie control the means of production.

What is false consciousness in Marxist theory?

The internalization of capitalist ideology by workers, leading them to fail to recognize their exploitation.

What is reification according to Marx?

The transformation of social relations into object-like forms, making them seem natural.

How does the Frankfurt School expand on Marx's ideas?

By examining ideological control in culture rather than just economic coercion.

What does the concept of the culture industry suggest?

That mass media standardizes cultural consumption, fostering conformity.

How does Michel Foucault redefine the concept of power?

As diffuse and omnipresent, embedded within everyday practices and knowledge systems.

What is the significance of Foucault's concept of surveillance?

It demonstrates how individuals internalize observation and regulate their own behavior.

What does Max Weber's concept of Verstehen emphasize?

The importance of interpreting social action from the perspective of individuals.

How does Erving Goffman’s dramaturgical analysis view social interaction?

As a performance where individuals present themselves based on context.

What is reflexive modernity according to Anthony Giddens?

The idea that individuals continuously construct and reconstruct their identities.

How does Ulrich Beck describe the impact of modernity on institutions?

He argues that modernity has become self-critical, increasing individual responsibility.

What does Bauman's concept of liquid modernity entail?

The instability of identity in contemporary life, where social structures provide less security.

What is the relationship between structure and agency?

It is a central tension in social theory regarding the formation of the self.

What does W.E.B. Du Bois’ concept of double consciousness highlight?

The experience of identity through the lens of social power, particularly in racial contexts.