In this book, one of the world s leading social theorists presents a critical, alarmed, but also nuanced understanding of the post-traditional world we inhabit today. Jeffrey Alexander writes about modernity as historical time and social condition, but also as ideology and utopia. The idea of modernity embodies the Enlightenment s noble hopes for progress and rationality, but its reality brings great suffering and exposes the destructive impulses that continue to motivate humankind. Alexander examines how twentieth-century theorists struggled to comprehend the Janus-faced character of modernity, which looks backward and forward at the same time. Weber linked the triumph of worldly asceticism to liberating autonomy but also ruthless domination, describing flights from rationalization as systemic and dangerous. Simmel pointed to the otherness haunting modernity, even as he normalized the stranger. Eisenstadt celebrated Axial Age transcendence, but acknowledged its increasing capacity for barbarity. Parsons heralded American community, but ignored modernity s fragmentations. Rather than seeking to resolve modernity s contradictions, Alexander argues that social theory should accept its Janus-faced character. It is a dangerous delusion to think that modernity can eliminate evil. Civil inclusion and anti-civil exclusion are intertwined. Alexander enumerates dangerous frictions endemic to modernity, but he also suggests new lines of social amelioration and emotional repair.

In this book, one of the world's leading social theoristspresents a critical, alarmed, but also nuanced understanding of thepost-traditional world we inhabit today. Jeffrey Alexander writesabout modernity as historical time and social condition, but alsoas ideology and utopia. The idea of modernity embodies theEnlightenment's noble hopes for progress and rationality, butits reality brings great suffering and exposes the destructiveimpulses that continue to motivate humankind.Alexander examines how twentieth-century theorists struggled tocomprehend the Janus-faced character of modernity, which looksbackward and forward at the same time. Weber linked the triumph ofworldly asceticism to liberating autonomy but also ruthlessdomination, describing flights from rationalization as systemic anddangerous. Simmel pointed to the otherness haunting modernity, evenas he normalized the stranger. Eisenstadt celebrated Axial Agetranscendence, but acknowledged its increasing capacity forbarbarity. Parsons heralded American community, but ignoredmodernity's fragmentations.Rather than seeking to resolve modernity's contradictionsAlexander argues that social theory should accept its Janus-facedcharacter. It is a dangerous delusion to think that modernity caneliminate evil. Civil inclusion and anti-civil exclusion areintertwined. Alexander enumerates dangerous frictions endemic tomodernity, but he also suggests new lines of social ameliorationand emotional repair.

CONTENTSPreface and AcknowledgementsIntroductionChapter 1: Social Theory between Progress and ApocalypseChapter 2: Autonomy and Domination: Weber's CageChapter 3: Barbarism and Modernity: Eisenstadt'sRegretChapter 4: Integration and Justice: Parsons' UtopiaChapter 5: Despising Others: Simmel's StrangerChapter 6: Meaning EvilChapter 7: De-civilizing the Civil SphereChapter 8: Psychotherapy as Central InstitutionChapter 9: The Frictions of Modernity and their PossibleRepairNotesBibliography