Zygmunt Bauman's poisoned gift of morality

Bauman's attempt to develop a sociological theory of morality turning aroun d fundamental premises of Durkheim's approach fails in the last analysis, s ince in Bauman's view the 'moral party of two' does not constitute a social situation. It is argued that the necessary condition to think sociological ly about morality is the concept of reciprocity and thus one can arrive at a view of morality in postmodernity consistent with Bauman's earlier theory of practice. If Bauman's idea about responsibilty as the core of morality is transformed to the idea of an appeal of history to compassion and is sup plemented with the idea of reciprocity as an emerging norm it is possible t o outline a sociological theory of moral practice according to postmodern c onditions.