Modernity and clarity

Zygmunt Bauman

pp. 109-122

in: Rainer E. Wiedenmann (ed), Ambivalenz, Wiesbaden, Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, 1997

Abstract

Ambivalence, ambiguity, equivocality ... These words convey the feeling of mystery and enigma; they also signal trouble, whose name is uncertainty, and a dismal state of mind, called indecision or hesitation. When we say that things or situations are ambivalent, what we mean is that we cannot be sure what is going to happen, and so neither know how to behave, nor can predict what the outcome of our actions will be. Instinctively or by learned habit, we dislike and fear ambivalence, that enemy of security and self-assurance. We are inclined to believe that we would feel much safer and more comfortable if situations were unambiguous — if it were clear what to do and certain what would happen if we do it.