Bauman's Legacy - (Anthem Impact) by Carlo Bordoni (Paperback)

About the Book

What remains of the idea of liquid modernity? Is Bauman's thought still relevant? This volume aims to answer these questions, without forgetting the vastness and complexity of his work, where the idea of liquidity remains fundamental, before and after the central turning point of the year 2000.

Book Synopsis

What remains of the idea of liquid modernity? Is Bauman's thought still relevant? This volume aims to answer these questions, without forgetting the vastness and complexity of his work, where the idea of liquidity remains fundamental, before and after the central turning point of the year 2000, when he published Liquid Modernity.
Bauman's legacy is multiform and complex, subdivided into partial legacies, not all of which are homogeneous and acceptable without benefit of inventory. The first difficulty consists in its complete lack of systematicity: Bauman-thought is by no means a single whole, nor can it be used as a key instrument to be applied to every condition, given that it explicitly concerns a precise fraction of our present. This is not to be understood as an oversight, but a conscious, strongly intended choice to eschew any systematic, systematising formulation of society. He prefers to understand the sociologist's task as an acute observer, capable of enabling social agents - that is, all human beings - to make the right choices with awareness of its risks, as well as its effects.
Bauman's legacy leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, because in its very concluding phase it reveals pessimistic implications that seem to contradict his previous positions, so full of hope and confidence in the opportunities for improvement of the humans. The very theorisation of liquidity itself seemed to suggest, in the peaceful understanding of a phase of disorientation, the possibility of rediscovering momentarily forgotten human values, first and foremost social solidarity.

Review Quotes

"This is a succinct and accessible introduction to the work of Zygmunt Bauman. Focusing mainly on the last two decades of Bauman's life, Carlo Bordoni offers an insightful take that successfully combines analysis of Bauman's key theoretical contributions with thought-provoking vignettes from his life. This book should appeal to a wider audience." --Sinisa Malesevic, Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology, University College, Dublin and CNAM, Paris, France.

"Bordoni's book is a lively and comprehensive depiction of Zygmunt Bauman's work. It is also a timely reappraisal of his key contribution to social analysis: the notion of "liquid modernity." Bordoni finely recalls how Bauman foresaw the downfall of rationality as he contemplated the dissolving forces an unbridled individualism keeps exerting on capitalist societies." --Albert Ogien, Emeritus Research Director, CNRS, Paris, France.

"Zygmunt Bauman used famously to welcome visitors into his sitting room for conversation and conviviality. Carlo Bordoni now takes over this role. He welcomes readers old and new to imbibe, enjoy, ponder and puzzle over liquid times and their results. He is the Welcome Stranger. This is a fascinating study." --Peter Beilharz, La Trobe University, Australia.

"A timely testimony to the achievement of one of the greatest social philosophers of the 20th century." -- Rein Raud, Tallinn University, Estonia.

About the Author

Carlo Bordoni is a sociologist and professor at the University Mercatorum (Rome).