Modernity

The present age is one of modernity. But what kind of modernity are we talking about? Is it still, as always, the reign of ideal modernity—the one that emerged long ago during the Age of Enlightenment in opposition to traditional society and that promised us a bright future? Or is it rather postmodernity that dominates the social sphere? Indeed, aren’t the pervasive narcissism, excessive consumption, the frantic pursuit of pleasures as futile as they are fleeting, and a certain existential void—among many other signs—indications that we are living in an era of postmodernity? But perhaps the present times are no longer even in the era of postmodernity, but are instead moving at the breakneck pace of a hypermodernity that is radically redefining the entire social sphere?
Set against the backdrop of modernity, this book explores various social worlds, all of which shed light on the present day. By the end of the book, it becomes clear that the present day is deeply shaped by the collective social worlds from which it emerges.