How to Restate the Keynote of Political Modernity:Political Philosophy in a Polarized Age
The increasingly severe political polarization in western societies challenged the basic values of political modernity,but this reveals the reflexivity of modernity itself.Among the three unstable pivots of political modernity,i.e.individualism,the differentiation of spheres and progressivism,progressivism has both a strong and a weak version and the former possesses a subversive effect on individualism and the differentiation of spheres.While individualism diverges from the traditional communitarianism,the social dimension of each person’s recognition and dignity leaves room for the group-oriented politics of difference.In order to restate the keynote of political modernity,political philosophy in this polarized age should highlight the social basis of personal dignity,and explore the viability of social engineering from the theories of social science besides questioning it from the purely moralized perspective.Meanwhile,active engagement in the public debate about the conceptions of the good and the philosophical criticism of technology are also important for modern political philosophy to propel the self-redemption of modernity.