Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 1993. Sectio Philosophica.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 21)

Pavel Fobel: Social-philosophical aspects of modernizing society

On the other hand, we now notice many different interpretations of the social processes, by our own scientists as well as by scientists from the authoritative western scene. Consultations between philosophers, sociologists, politologists and others from post-totalitarian countries may become the principal starting point for a better understanding of these social changes and also for new directions in research, leading to a much deeper self-knowledge. One of the main spheres of social and philosophical analyses in connection with these changes, is the relevant question of social changes, social dynamism and, as a result, social progress. In the beginning, the modernization was connected with the evolving "progress" category mainly by philosophers of a socialistic standpoint and those who understood the principles behind "the evolution of a society". Modernization leads to the establishment of new institutions, new social relations and new ways of life.

1 The term "modernization" is now understood in a much broader sense than it has been since the 1950s, and it is being used more often as societies found their own theories about modernization. The concept of the theory of a modernization which is described as "the process of transition from a traditional society into an ever-changing, contemporary industrial society" has no definite logical structure. It is quite unclear and is used to describe various systems, political, economic or technical and technological processes. It is also accepted in the spiritual sphere of culture, philosophy and art. In order to distinguish between all these processes, the term "post-modernism" has begun to be used. The process of modernization is mostly understood at two levels. The first being the epoch of the first industrial revolution, the interruption of traditional hereditary privileges, the proclamation of equal civil rights, democratization. The second is marked by gathering of mature social, economic and cultural contacts with existing market and industrial centers. In principle, it is a question of a society that is acquiring self-organization. The dichotomy of the traditional and modern industrial societies represented in socio-philosophical essays by Kant, Spencer, Tonnies, Weber, Rostow, Eisenstadt, Dürkheim and many others can be overcome, according to the new methodological procedures, by using a systematic approach. In certain senses, the term modernization is in accordance with the evolution of society. 36