This week we discussed Habermas' "Modernity: An Incomplete Project." Habermas makes an interesting observation regarding modernity and post-modernity and how we've pro/regressed over the years. Habermas argues that, while we as a society have progressed in some areas, we pay a price in an almost karmatic response and regress in other ways. For instance, while many places in the world now have the freedom of religion, this has provided a loophole for religions to hold dictations over their areas and may use their religious freedom right as a means of discrimination. Another example given is how we no longer torture prisoners or keep them in dark, damp holes in the ground, but may still attack their sanity in other ways or various forms.
Personally, I'd have to say that I agree with Habermas to an extent; I think that I'd describe it more as opposed to progressing in some situations and regressing in others, we simply changed how things are being done, but they are still being done. Instead of slavery in the United States, we utilize the mass incarceration system to imprison people of color for low-grade offenses and gain cheap/free, 'legal' labor. We may not live in a theocracy, but religious freedom is merely a guise that allows dominant religions to control how things are ran. Women are allowed to live freely, in control of their own bodies, but every move that they make will be watched and scrutinized.
In a way, we've bettered lives for the majority, but haven't really changed all that much for the rest of the populations.
Personally, I'd have to say that I agree with Habermas to an extent; I think that I'd describe it more as opposed to progressing in some situations and regressing in others, we simply changed how things are being done, but they are still being done. Instead of slavery in the United States, we utilize the mass incarceration system to imprison people of color for low-grade offenses and gain cheap/free, 'legal' labor. We may not live in a theocracy, but religious freedom is merely a guise that allows dominant religions to control how things are ran. Women are allowed to live freely, in control of their own bodies, but every move that they make will be watched and scrutinized.
In a way, we've bettered lives for the majority, but haven't really changed all that much for the rest of the populations.
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