The current stage of modernity: Modernist, postmodernist and alternative perspectives

Modernity is the last human condition that the societies reached in the historical process. As the historical background of modernity, Reform movements, Renaissance and the Enlightenment played great roles in the development of modernity. In the political shape of modernity, the French and the American Revolutions were the basic elements, while the Industrial Revolution paved the way for economic modernization.The individuals who altered the God-centred world into a social world achieved to master the all external conditions from which they freed themselves. The early modernity was the one in which the individuals emerged who could take the decisions in transforming the world. At the same time, in this modernity, people became citizens whose basic rights were guaranteed by a nation-state on the basis of law. And by means of science the nature was mastered by human beings.On the other hand, as the first economic system of modernity, capitalism divided society into opposite social classes. Within the 20th century, modernity experienced important changes due to the economic realm. The transformations of modernity first took place under the collectivist rule of welfare state and secondly on the basis of neo-liberal perspective, multiculturalist and individualist era started. During the neo-liberal stage of modernity, the discussions about equality turned on liberty questions and at the same time the cultural distinctions came to the fore of societies. In turn, this created a post-modern theory that argues for the end of modernity.Post-modernism has been unsuccessful in exploring the contemporary world because of its ignorance of the openness of the principles of modernity. Modernity continues, as a world of differences, holding contradictions. As Habermas considered, modernity as the project of Enlightenment has not yet realized its purposes and therefore it is unfinished project. Thus, it is better to see the current face of modernity as a reconstruction.