Antagonism: what is it? Class antagonism as a subtype of social

The term "antagonist" is often found in the descriptions of various films and serials. It is understood as a negative hero - the one with which the main character usually fights. But this definition is closer to the media and culture. Naturally, in scientific disciplines it is treated differently. Antagonism - what is it? It was the answer to this question that became the main topic of this article.

Terminology

Synonym of antagonism is often considered a contradiction. This is not entirely true, because the term is only one of its types. For example, the phrase "antagonistic contradiction" is permissible, and this will already be synonymous with the word "antagonism". What does this mean? Usually this term is understood as such a situation, in which the dispute becomes irreconcilable. Antagonism is also translated not only as a "dispute" but also as a "struggle", but the key word here is precisely "intransigence".

Causes of occurrence. Variants of definition

Antagonism occurs when inconsistencies in opinions reach the point where they contradict each other. Efremova defined this concept as a rivalry or a struggle of interests. But this is not entirely correct. Antagonism always means a collision without the possibility to step aside.

Dahl, when writing his own definition, approached somewhat from the other side: his definition in some way resembles Newton's well-known law, in which for each force there is a force that can resist it. And he came to the following conclusion about what antagonism is. That this is the same destructive power. That's why we return to what was written in the introduction, about how negative characters in various works are called antagonists.

But the importance of this article is not to consider it as part of art, but to reflect the point of view of science. That is why class antagonism as a kind of social conflict is the object of attention of the next paragraph.

Class conflicts

Class antagonism is closely related to the class struggle. To define it is unambiguously difficult, since the very definition of the word "class" has several meanings. Nevertheless, it can be precisely pointed out that class antagonism is clearly connected with intransigence and struggle, as well as other types. The hostile clash of strata of society due to stratification, which takes place in any society, is the cause of class antagonism. It can not be perceived separately from the public. It arises as a result of the development of society and is a subspecies for such a concept as "social antagonism". What this will be discussed below.

Consequences of class antagonism

An epic end to class antagonism is the social revolution that occurs when the interests of the new and old class, obsolete traditions and modernized social settings collide with "foreheads," and it is no longer possible to resolve the contradiction in a civilized way.

Socio-legal contradictions

In sociology, there are three types of social and legal contradictions, the first of which is antagonistic. It has a negative destructive character, which means: enmity obviously leads to destruction.

Social antagonism is the predominance in the relationship of the orientation of one or both sides to inequality. For example, the inequality of classes (as in the previous paragraph), gender inequality, racism, discrimination by faith and religion, ageism (this is age discrimination), etc. One of the manifestations of social antagonism is thinking in the direction of its development. Social antagonistic thinking implies such an understanding of social ties as domination of one over another, that is, submission to one another. Social antagonism is also characterized by objectification (the perception of individuals as objects and others as their subjects).