The modern evolution of the meaning of "identification"

Deeply explored the evolution and importance of the concept of "identity" in modern society. Identity was initially a philosophical concept that referred to the consistency between things and themselves, and was later adopted by psychology and sociology to develop concepts of identity and identity at the individual and societal levels. Taylor defined identity as the way in which an individual interacts with others to fulfill their subjectivity, emphasizing the comprehensiveness and multidimensionality of identity, including individual identity, collective identity, and the distinction between self-identity and individual identity. Taylor pays special attention to modern self-identity, believing that the "Great Detachment" has changed modern people's self understanding, prompting religious life to shift towards the spiritual and spiritual level. In modern society, an "internal framework" has emerged, replacing religion as a framework that provides meaning and direction, influencing the values and behaviors of modern people. The lack of an identity framework may lead modern people to lose direction in value judgments and actions. As a modern social phenomenon, identity focuses on the modern concepts of human subjectivity, personality, and self, involving the pursuit of a sense of belonging and home.

The main content of modern identity

Taylor explored three main aspects of modern identity in his paper: modern internalization, affirmation of daily life, and the concept of expressionist nature. Modern internalization emphasizes that individual self understanding is a continuously generated process with great plasticity and inner depth. Taylor divided the self into the "permeable self" and the "buffered self", analyzing the self and its identity in the pre modern and modern periods. The pre modern self has permeability, collectivity, and sociality, while the modern self is aware of the possibility of transcendence, rejecting the enchanting world and its transcendent forces based on utilitarian purposes.

The Transformation of Modern Identity

Taylor conducted in-depth research on the evolution of modern Western collective identity and believed that modern identity originated in the 17th century, with "freedom," "nature," and "efficiency" as its core connotations. The development of modern identity can be divided into two periods: the first period emphasizes the reinterpretation of freedom, attaches importance to human inner needs and subjectivity, leading to the internalization of nature and the weakening of the pursuit of virtues and goodness; Instrumental rationality has become the primary criterion for measuring human beings, triggering a fervent pursuit of production efficiency. The second period, represented by Rousseau and Romanticism, criticized the arrangement and organization of life by instrumental rationality, emphasized individuality, uniqueness, and differences, promoted the internalization of individuals, and formed Expressionism. Expressionism and Enlightenment individualism have an inherent tension, but their contradictions coexist in modern society, culture, and psychological structures, profoundly influencing modern identity.

The interaction between modern identity and lifestyle patterns

Explored the interactive relationship between modern identity and lifestyle patterns. In traditional society, individual life is strictly restricted and lacks independence. The emergence of modern identity has broken this situation, and atomic families have helped people gain private space and life, achieving individual autonomy and independence. Modern identity has brought both positive and negative impacts: on the one hand, it has led to the demise of communities; On the other hand, it promotes the self realization of individual nature.

Characteristics of Taylor Identity Research

By comparing Taylor's research with Giddens and Hall's, the characteristics of Taylor in modern identity research are highlighted. Giddens focuses on the relationship between self-identity and modernity institutions, emphasizing the suppression of morality by modernity, but lacks a deep moral perspective. Hall's research on personal identity decentralization and non essentialism is limited to contemporary society. Taylor delves into modern identity from a moral perspective, combining philosophy, religion, and cultural history to reveal two threads of self formation and the evolution of self understanding. He analyzed the emergence, manifestation, and dilemma of modern identity, as well as its interactive relationship with the spirit, concepts, and life of modern people. Taylor's research has a broad perspective, a deep sense of history, and profound professional analysis, providing us with a comprehensive and profound understanding of Western modern identity.