A Theory of Modernity

"Heller is an outstanding, independent thinker. Her theory of modernity is distinctive and brings fresh philosophic insight to many topics that are currently being debated." --Richard J. Bernstein, The New School for Social Research "The book is an elegantly written and assured summation of her views on modernity from a philosopher probably now at the height of her powers. It incorporates Heller's own philosophical perspective, an outline of her great predecessors, a comprehensive theory of modernity and a spirit with its own complex cultural dynamic and novel subjective experience and problems." --John Grumley, University of Sydney

Agnes Heller-a colleague, pupil, and friend of George Lukacs and one-time dissident in Communist Hungary - is Hannah Arendt Professor of Philosophy at the New School for Social Research in New York. Her books include Reconstructing Aestheticism (1986), Beyond Justice (1988), General Ethics (1989), A Philosophy of Morals (1990), and An Ethics of Personality (1996), all published by Blackwell Publishers.

Acknowledgements. Preface. 1. Modernity from a Postmodern Perspective: The Philosophical Presuppositions. 2. Challenge by the Heritage: Hegel, Marx, Weber. 3. The Two Constituents of Modernity: The Dynamics of Modernity. 4. The Two Constituents of Modernity: The Modern Social Arrangement. 5. The Three Logics of Modernity: The Logic of Technology, Science as the Dominating World-View of Modernity. 6. The Three Logics of Modernity: The Logic of the Division of Social Positions, Functions, and Wealth. 7. The Three Logics of Modernity: The Logic of Political Power (Domination). 8. Culture and Civilization: The Three Concepts of Culture. 9. Culture and Civilization II: The Omnivorous Modernity. 10. Culture and Civilization III: Civilization. 11. World-time and Life-time. 12. Space, place and home. 13. Law, ethos and ethics. The question of values. 14. Happinessshenticity; an ethics of personality. Selected Bibliography. Index.