Description
Book SynopsisIn Acquiring Modernity, Paul B. Paolucci, updating classical theory, examines the nature of modern society. Investigated from a sociological perspective but written in accessible everyday language, this book provides a multifaceted account of what makes modern society what it is, from its historical roots to its current conditions. Neither traditional classroom text nor a work of detailed erudition for the specialist few, Acquiring Modernity draws on material from known historical events, scholarly research, and recent global developments to tell modernity’s story through topics such as the modern classes, religious practice, relations of gender and race, politics, environmental issues, and economic crises. Valuable reading for anyone interested in understanding contemporary life and society.
Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements List of Illustrations 1 No Rest Until Modernity is Acquired 2 Speculation Ends, Science Begins 3 Divesting Philosophy’s Ultimate Word 4 The Concept of Society 5 History and Human Development 6 A History of Struggles 7 Mystical Consciousness 8 Illusions to this Day 9 An Inverted World 10 Educating the Educator 11 Windy Idealists and Frothy Youth 12 Middle Class Snobbism 13 Pauperism and Artificial Impoverishment 14 Social Scum 15 Of Souls, Sighs, and Opium 16 The Cult of Nature 17 World Literature 18 Modern Society’s All-dominating Power 19 An Impulse Never Before Known 20 Head of the Movement 21 Absurd Epidemics 22 Swindling Joint-stock Companies 23 Machines 24 Rule of the Towns 25 Feverish Anxiety and Astonishment 26 Solids Melting into Air 27 Civilization and Barbarism 28 Celebrating Orgies, Blood, and Fire 29 Bureaucracy and the Bureaucrats 30 The Economic Existence of the State 31 Democracy for their Truth 32 Parliamentary Disease and the Holy Ghost 33 The Executive Committee 34 Modern Mythology and its Goddesses 35 Rolling Back the Wheel 36 The Goal of Popular Desire 37 National Egoism 38 Every Sect is Religious 39 Disgusting Despotism 40 The Sycophantic Babblers 41 Applying Chemistry to Industry and Agriculture 42 The Measure of Social Progress 43 Defiling Republics 44 A Fetish Dark and Mysterious 45 The World Market 46 The Political Chessboard 47 Throwing Dust in People’s Eyes 48 Gravedigging Megalomaniacs 49 The Sorcerer 50 Prevailing Tendencies 51 Common Ruin 52 Chains, Riddles, Worlds 53 Socialist Sentimentalizing 54 Whether We Want it or Not 55 Afterword 56 Postmodernism? References Index
