Thematization of fear in the concept of Ulrich Beck

Pluralism, decentration, fragmentation, volatility, uncertainty are the hallmarks of modern society. In this regard, analysis of the phenomenon of fear is relevant at this time. Modern society is a society of risk. The person is forced to make a choice to make decisions on their own risk in this society. Freedom of choice, uncertainty of results of choice, uncertainty of consequences of choice, responsibility are necessary qualities of contemporary social reality. Hence, identification of the place and role of fear in modern society is important. In modern philosophy fear is thematized in anthropological and social contexts. This article analyzes the social context of fear. This analysis answers the questions: What does fear explain in understanding of the contemporary society? What place does fear occupy in this society? The analysis is conducted on the basis of the concept of U. Beсk because he is the most representative figure of this direction. The main conclusions are the following. Fear is a necessary element in today's society. The modern society is a society of risk. The society of risk constantly reproduces risks and dangers. An ideal society for the risk society is a safe society. Hence, the fear of the risks and dangers is the driving force of modern society. This situation is caused by the development of the society, globalization and individualization that occurs in the modern society. In the conception of U. Beсk there can be distinguished two types of fear: fear of internal threats and fear of external dangers. The typification corresponds to ontical-ontological distinction. The fear of external threats is the fear of the dangers of the modern outside world. These fears are global in nature. Often these fears are not directly perceived by the senses. Hence, these fears depend on the knowledge of the dangers. This fear can be used as a management tool. The fear of internal threats is the fear of the ontological choice, the fear of one's own life; it is the fear of ontological freedom. A solitary person is a social element of the modern society, which is essentially personalized. The fear of internal threats is the fear of each individual. The concept of risk society of U. Beсk is a new direction thematizing the phenomenon of fear. In this context, fear and risk overlap. There is interrelation of fear with the idea of knowledge, the idea of freedom in the concept of U. Beck. These interrelations are also present in the earlier tradition, in psychoanalysis and existentialism.

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