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Key Questions:         
What does it mean to be modern?
What is the process of modernisation?
Why does the Western social mode of organisation become so powerful and influential?
Further reading:
Lee D. and Newby H. (1995), The Problem of Sociology, Ch. 2 pp. 26-39.
Bilton T. et. al. (1997) Introductory Sociology

Introduction to the concept of Modernity
Modernity is an abstract term and yet attempts to describe very concrete processes, events, relations, transformations.
In fact it is a very ambitious term, since it attempts to include and embrace a whole historical epoch. As every abstact term is static and empty; however, in this concept there is enclosed the history, the present and even the future of spectacular revolutions, changes, developments but also destructions dangers and surprises.
We are moderns, or we call ourselves moderns. We use computers, cheque books, tele-controls, calculators, means of transportation; we go to the cinema, art exhibitions, buy CD`s, down-load music, BUT we write CV`s, try to gain qualifications and skills, acquire knowledge and expertise, since we become aware that we live in a world full of opportunities but also highly competitive, in which our qualifications and talents thoughts and skills are meant to enter into the exchange process, into the market system, as commodities themselves.
Yet we live in an age where there is unprecedented expansion of human creativity, artistic production, scientific discoveries, next to the accumulation of the most advanced techniques of waging war, annihilating humanity and the planet itself, advanced techniques of suppression, discipline, control, subordination.
We live in a specific national state, which both recognise us as its citizens and provide us its services, protection, legal and political rights and at the same time improves and tries to perfect itself in new means of suppression and control, excludes its own citizens from the very liberties it claims to deliver.
It sounds then as a rather paradoxical epoch; but this is precisely how we are going to explore it.
Let us see the story from the beginning.
We read in textbooks of sociology that modernity is the term for the historical epoch, and the specific modes of social organisation that emerged in Europe from about the 17th century onwards and which subsequently became more or less global in their influence. We deal then with social organisation of Western Civilisation, which seems to engulf in its features the whole world. Colonisation of other countries, what has been called the Third World, was the first form of expansion of western civilisation, as now we have the rapid westernisation of the newly industrialised, Asiatic countries, the domination of the market system all over the word, the domination of the Trans-National Corporation and the leading national states.
Why does the Western social mode of organisation become though so powerful and influential?
Let us then trace the main features of this rising era, which we call modern.
The Age of Reason – The Age of Enlightenment
• “Sapere aude”, Immanuel Kant, i.e. “have the courage to use your own understanding”. Descartes (1596-1650) ‘Cogito ergo sum’ -  “I think therefore I am”.   
• Rise of Modern Science
• Reason – modern philosophy – I think therefore I am
• Scepticism – challenge of church and clergy 
• Telescope – the earth from outside
• New explorers – new maps – new continents – expansion of mining and land the contraction of space – new means of transportation