Calling the Soul of Theory: The Perspective of Social Sciences Examining “the Modern”

To examine “the modern”, there are two basic approaches, humanities and social sciences. The humanities not only occur or appear at the same time as “the modern”, but also become an impressive academic system demonstrating “the modern”. The perspective of social sciences especially social theory, which examines “the modern”, is an approach that gives priority to factual description, comparative analysis, and overall affirmation. The empirical method in the social sciences, on the one hand, seeks to show people a true and accurate picture of the modern, and on the other hand, it mimics the natural sciences to provide a mathematical or digital descriptive analysis of the modern. Together, the two contribute to the grand and the micro theoretical traditions of social theory and empirical research, respectively. The pros and cons of empirical research, especially the quantitative research of “the modern”, come out together. The perspective of social sciences alone, which examines the “modern”, needs to be corrected with reason, reflected, and transcended. In this way, this perspective not only promotes the integration of social theory and social scientific vision, but also links up the social sciences and humanities again.