Social Transformations of the Post-Metaphysical Era
https://doi.org/10.30727/0235-1188-2021-64-4-29-45
Abstract
The article is concerned with the social transformations of the post-metaphysical era. It emphasizes the fact that the current state of society is a result of cardinal changes in the subject area of metaphysical discourse. It means transformation of our understanding of the nature of reality as well as the status of reason and truth. Classical modernism is based on belief in the existence of objective reality, universal reason and the truth as a correspondence of rational judgments to the actual state of affairs. Thus, science becomes the main guarantor of this belief in modern society. At the same time, the article shows gradual delegitimization of this belief in the main traditions of European philosophy (phenomenology, analytic philosophy, pragmatism) since the middle of the 20 th century. After post-positivism and new trends in the philosophy of science, scientific knowledge lost its unique cultural status. Since then, it could no longer make final judgments of reality. Due to major discoveries, the concept of reality fundamentally changed, and it is now conceived as intersubjective rather than completely objective. The universal status of reason has “disintegrated” into several historical types of rationality. The absolute truth has been replaced with the pluralist theory of truths, opening the era of post-truth. What the article emphasizes is that such fundamental changes in our notions of existence, reason and the truth lead to a transformation of the whole social system. At the world-systems level, alternative civilization projects appear, promoting their own understanding of social goals and values and devaluating the role of the expert community, which had crucial importance for classical modernism. New identities, ways of mobilization and solidarization are formed, new forms of stratification appear. At the same time, the article states that the main feature of the post-metaphysical era is that unique way of relating to existence, which means conscious construction of reality. Relying on this statement and Heidegger’s tradition, it is proposed to define the modern paradigm of relating to existence as “the time of the construct of the world.”
About the Author
Viktor S. Levytskyy
Ukrainian Institute of Strategies of Global Development and Adaptation
Belgium
Belgium
Ph.D. in Philosophy, Director
Brussels
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Review
For citations:
Levytskyy V.S. Social Transformations of the Post-Metaphysical Era. Russian Journal of Philosophical Sciences. 2021;64(4):29-45. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30727/0235-1188-2021-64-4-29-45
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