Social Inequalities Beyond the Modern Nature-Society- Divide? The Cases of Cosmetic Surgery and Predictive Genetic Test- ing1

Due to the accelerated dynamics of scientific and technological modernisation over the last few decades, the sharp and unambiguous categorical distinction and sepa-ration between "nature " and "society " that has been essential for the self-perception of Western modernity is increasingly subject to erosion or even dissolu-tion. The article aims to explore the possible consequences of this blurring of boundaries with regard to the generation, social perception, and justification of social inequalities in "reflexive modern " societies. Using the examples of cosmetic surgery and predictive genetic testing, current tendencies of a seemingly paradoxi-cal "renaturalisation " of inequality are outlined: contrary as well as parallel to the modern programme and promise of a "denaturalisation of society " (Jürgen Haber-mas), "natural " characteristics such as physical appearance or genetic constitution are gaining importance in terms of social distinction and discrimination. One should, however, not fail to see that this renaturalisation is not simply a revival of older (if by no means definitely overcome) forms of social inequalities based o