Introduction; Chaos theory is often associated with post modernism. However, one may make the point that both terms are misunderstood. The point of this article is to define both terms and indicate their relationship.

Description: Chaos theory is associated with a definition of a theory dealing with variables (butterflies) that are not directly related to a phenomenon and yet play secondary but forceful stimuli to the emergence of these phenomena. It is post-modern because it suggests that the traditional scientific method of discovery needs improvement and that interpretation of results may be flawed.

To understand postmodernism, one must first know what came before it. However, the standard definition is social patterns characteristic to postindustrial societies. To get a better understanding of post modernism, there are two other competing social patterns that still exist today (Macionis: 2005). They are pre-modernism and modernism. They are discussed here.

Pre-modernism: Although it is the first form of social patterns, it may also be the most abundant. Many societies remain at this initial stage or have briefly experimented with modernism and then returned to pre-modernism. We see five major points. They are:
1. Elements of society- People of same or similar racial heritage ban together. Tolerance of difference isn’t acceptable. The group looks to the past of a golden age and wants the future to be like this idealistic past. Hunting & gathering societies, hoe and plow cultures, pastoral societies and agricultural societies are the main means of production. 2. Social structure- there is fixed and ascribed sex and social class roles. Societies are generally small and deviation is dealt with by gossip, trial and ordeal, corporal and capitol punishment. 3. Social institutions- Tribe, kin, and extended family are important. Education is limited. Differing religions are not tolerated. There are high birth and death rates. Social change is slow and only tolerated.

Modernism: This social pattern follows pre-modernism. It means: 1) traditional societies can no longer cope and population increases and the means of production moves from agricultural to industrialism.2. Personal choice increases. One may be able to choose mate, location of life, work, and related activities. One has the illusion that they can control their lives. In fact, one is obligated to take actions that control one’s life style.3. Diversity is abundant. People from numerous demographics and psychographics come together in small geographic areas called cities. Punishment is determined by courts of law. 4. Time becomes extremely important and is sectioned into days, nights, work, and play. Supposedly smart individuals have a future orientation. Science is extremely important. Progress theory is believed.

Post modernism: In this social pattern, only the most “advance” countries are becoming aware of this. It is based on the following assumptions: 1) Modernity begins to fade. One of the promises of modernism is free from want. Things do improve dramatically, but the human condition triumphs over technology. 2. Buoyant optimism attached to progress begins to lose its luster. The future can be bright or perhaps not. Upward and onward are not assumed. Each generation has its own problems. 3. Science shares power with religion and magic. Traditional science is conducted for the benefit of the rich. Scientific research can be questioned by chaos theory, and deconstructionism. Much of life is social constructed. Post modernism draws also from critical theory. The elite determine the categories and language imprisons us. Life is extremely fluid when one has an emphatic moment and gets beyond language. Some say that emptiness is encountered. Others claim that mysticism is the prevalent feeling. 4. Social institutions are changing as modernism fails. The struggle over material goods is partially replaced with the struggle of ideas. Post-post modernism has emerged because post modernism has become so extreme and obtuse, that is deemed not to be workable. The most extreme statement is that language comes before humanity. That is just wrong. Humans invent language for survival to construct society. Further, statements such as there is not a meta-narrative is replaced with a meta-narrative do exist but it is likely to be subjective.

Example: Let’s apply the three perspectives or patterns to religion. In pre-modernism, religion is paramount. Humans are evil and irrational. Religion is necessary for control. By reciting group affirmations, the essence of God reaches and blossoms within individuals at about the same amount. God does not have to be defended with proofs. The spirit of the religious institution transcends any skepticism. In modernism, skepticism is answered by rational religion. Early traditions of a religion can at times be thought of as metaphors that are systematically related to each other. Or one is so overwhelmed by God, that a leap of faith is celebrated. We become so rational that we recognize that even proofs of philosophy and science are not enough to support one’s beliefs and thus recognizing this we have answered the questions of doubters with our elemental faith stance.. Humans are perfectible although they remain sinners. Postmodernism suggests that no matter how we organize religion, we bring together individuals who ultimately have their own beliefs and come together to worship as if there is oneness in a group. God is beyond words and social construction. Humans may be perfectible, but that question has yet to be answered. We are probably selfish, but can be encouraged to be good.

The Seventies: Modernity probably began to suffer during the height of scientism and the use of science in war, media, and other public domains (Pinker: 2002). Science could be manipulated. Results could be reinterpreted. Technology could destroy environments and people. Rational religion of modernism was really a very imperfect manifestations of words assembled to rationalize social class dominance. Chaos theory and deconstruction both hit elite campuses roughly at the same time. This is probably coincidental, but both suggested that scientific results, science experts, and related are but one more strategy to make decisions by the few over the many. In Chaos theory, this message was inadvertent. Chaos theory’s most powerful impact was that mainstream modeling of such things as econometric models were likely to be wrong, because the models would quickly delete as “noise” the very butterflies that could undue the whole research strategy. However, words were still important and math was still the underlying attempt to order nature. Reality was not a blur, rather quite the opposite. It was so very complex that the smallest changes could have big impacts. Deconstructionist went in a different direction to suggest that humans have but a few root metaphors that help them survive. Nearly all else is superfluous or manipulated by the few to control the many.

Post-post modernism emerged to indicate that regardless of what we say about words, we sure need them to carry on society. Thus, deconstructionism has moderated. Chaos theory became the justification that novelty could still be partially measured or represented and that science still had a place with religion and magic. Throughout history, these are the 3 forms of inquiry of how humans have reached out to what we call reality.

Ultimately, human creatures are a combination of pre-modern (the attractiveness of the village and family) modernism (empiricism and reason is to be honored) and post-modern (some categorization is very arbitrary and or manipulative.)

References Cited:

Macaronis, J. (2005) Sociology Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson

Pinker, S. (2002) The Blank Slate New York: Viking