The thickening modern: developing a research agenda beyond intensifying rationalism

Abstract

We engage in a transdisciplinary trial attempting to understand a societal paradigm slide we call the thickening modern. It is a reaction to the modern way of thinking that attempts to cope with the challenges presented by ‘postmodern’ changes. We deliberate the role of rationalism in two political discussions we see as instances of the thickening modern: decision making in religious communities in a secular society and quality in education. In both cases there is a shift to a postmodern ontological uncertainty yet an attempt to epistemologically cling to modern rationality. We sketch a research agenda that would allow understanding beyond the intensifying rationalism of the modern.