Sociology and Postmodernity

Abstract

Among the social sciences, sociology is particularly exposed and vul nerable to the influence and criticism of the complex set of intellectual orientations that go under the heading "postmodernism"?vague as this term may be. Historically, sociology is a discourse about modernity, perhaps the one most intimately linked to the modern project. The classical legacy of sociology lies in fact in the two cornerstones of this project: the intelligibil ity and the malleability of the social order?the possibility of managing and of directing its course by rational means. It is precisely this citadel of rationality that has been stormed by postmodern thought in its various forms. It is not my contention that the postmodern challenge alone explains the current difficulties of sociology, and of the social sciences in general, even though some of their practitioners (notably in economics, perhaps in psychology) claim a higher status and even look down on their colleagues in sociology. However, on the one hand, this challenge does provide the general context within which sociologie as well as socio-scientific debate in general is to be viewed and evaluated. On the other hand, it is largely because of the postmodern challenge that we may argue not for the demise of sociology (as much postmodern thought seems to), but for its vitality and persistent usefulness. The present crisis of modernity, or at least of the rational coordinates of its project, affects sociology not only because reason is being questioned. More subtly (and potentially more devastatingly), the challenge is offered that the twin principles of the modern liberal project, individual freedom and political democracy, cannot serve to resolve problems, including those created by the unfolding of the project itself.1 Postmodernism, postmodernity, the postmodern: the terms have be come confused. Does postmodernism refer to a cultural implosion? Is it the latest form of Weberian disenchantment? The latest step in the Marxian