1a. Giddens suggests that we are able to live in a modern world because we have
ID: 3457795 • Letter: 1
Question
1a. Giddens suggests that we are able to live in a modern world because we have trust in abstract systems. He gives the examples of withdrawing money from an ATM or boarding a plane. Pick another example of trust in an abstract system that is required for your own modern life. Has this trust ever been broken?
1b. “Is the search for self-identity a form of somewhat pathetic narcissism, or is it, in some part at least, a subversive force in respect of modern institutions?...The outside world only enters it here; it is an outside world vastly more extensive in character than anyone would have had contact with in the pre-modern era.” (Giddens, p. 520).
Explanation / Answer
1a.
Another example of trust in this abstract system is the trust that we put into our doctors and the medical system. We trust the diagnosis of our doctors and take the course of therapy that has been prescribed by them. This form of trust is broken in third world countries were people are used for medical research without their knowledge and are experimented upon by their trusted medical institutions.
1b.
Gidden says that in the modern world one has to construct their own self image and promote it. Now, the traditional forms of self identity as family, race, gender etc has lost their grounds. No more an individual is known by what their family's identity was, or because of their race etc. The institutions of modern society has almost eliminated these forms of self identity. Now, each individual has to construct their own self identity let be of their financial status, relationship, or by following health regimes. The construction of a self identity requires a lot of effort and time which give rise to narcissism. Mostly the self identity in the world is created without a moral self evaluation and with extensive self promotion. This promotes narcissism or self love in the individuals resulting in promotion of self interests by such individuals.
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