再帰性と近代社会

ギデンズの再帰性概念の徹底化を論じる

抄録

　Reflexivity is a concept which reflects oneself to others and determines oneself by the reflection of others. Giddens critiques empirical and functional methods of sociology, and suggests new rules of sociological methods by means of using the concept of reflexivity.
　Giddens also uses reflexivity to explain modern society. In modern society reflexivity works faster in the social system, and reliable certainty cannot be found anywhere. Giddens insists that post industrial society is not 'post-modernity' but 'high-modernity', a boundless working of reflexivity. In high-modernity, politics acts as an important role as rationality did in modernity.
　Giddens makes a close connection between sociological method and modern society by using 'reflexivity', which is the key word of both method of social thought and social theory of modernity.
　If reflexivity works more and more, we must doubt not only the foundation of social science but also that of logics and natural science. To pursue reflexivity more radically, we will see a more uncertain world than Giddens anticipates. In addition, we should pursue not simple modernization, which reflects Western rational modernization, but reflexive modernization, which reflects multiple cultures.
　When we understand that everything is reflected in our own culture, including our concepts, even the concept of 'reflexivity', and sympathize with other different cultures, we can subjectively and critically begin a new method of social thought. At the same time, we can reflexively construct a society for the future.