MODERNITY: THE PROBLEM OF SOCIETAL TYPOLOGY
In my paper I started with the explanation of why the very idea of classification still matters for social theory and real politics. Then, having in mind contemporary “plural modernities” interpretative approach (G.Therborn, P.Wagner) as opposed to the traditional institution-oriented one and being inspired with critique which had already been done and applied to the issue of modernity (V.Fedotova, B.Kapustin, A.Menshikov, M.Khomyakov) I assumed that deconstruction and critical analysis of ‘true' model of holistic modernity would enable us not only to highlight certain contradictions and ruptures within the model, but to reconstruct the most famous historical gradings and social taxonomies as well. In conclusion, I discussed some possibilities of accommodating social gradings to the requirements of contemporary theories of modernity.