Modernity

Conceptual Overview and Discussion

Modernity, a nebulous term that usually refers to the contrast between the new and the old, describes a culture guided by the principle that the new is better. Thus, as Charles Lemert points out, modernity signifies the loss of the familiar, a loss that sometimes occurs through deliberate destruction of the old. Culture, as Peter Berger defines it, is the product of human meanings being externalized or poured out, an outpouring that is both a biological necessity and something that makes humans unique in relation to animal and plant species. It is important to differentiate modernity from modernism and modernization. Modernism denotes the way the new or modern is expressed in art. Modernization refers to social, political, and economic changes engendered by attitudes and programs seeking to promote the modern. Modernity, then, describes a culture that has undergone modernization. Easily the most recognizable characteristic of modernity is its valuing of reason and science over faith and religion. Modernity sees the future as the age in which progress associated with reason, equality, and discipline will culminate in a social utopia. Modernity gave birth to the tools and methods of the social sciences during the latter part of the 19th century. It is within this context that case study research emerged as an effective way to learn about the whys and wherefores of human behavior and belief. Jean Piaget and Sigmund Freud pioneered the use of case studies in their theories about the human psyche (Freud) and the way children learn (Piaget). Today the method is used extensively in the social sciences, and it continues to be a popular way to conduct research and teaching in various professional fields. This entry begins by describing the dynamics and values associated with modernity. Modernity's relevance to case study research is unfolded in the next section, followed by a look at the contribution of Max Weber to case study research. The last section discusses how the myth of modernity, according to postmodern theory, opens up new possibilities for case study research.