THE RATIONALITY OF ACTION

Examining Max Webers Understanding of Rationalization

AFEEFAH ALLY
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
SOCB43H3
D. SILVER
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Afeefah Ally
998985479
D. Silver
SOCB43H3
The Rationality of Action: Examining Max Webers Understanding of Rationalization
Throughout many of his works the German social scientist, Max Weber, focuses on several
facets of rationalization in an effort to examine its effects on modern society and ultimately
present conclusions regarding his various understandings of rationalization. While Weber
presents a number of varying analyses of what rationalization entails, there is in fact a centering
theme across his works that demonstrates that understanding rationalization requires first
understanding action itself. To elaborate, using his typology of action, Weber regards one form
of rationalization of action as resulting from a value-oriented rationality that was found in many
salvation religion movements such as American Puritanism. However, in contrast, he also
understood rationalization to embody the purposive or instrumental rationality that has inspired
modern bureaucratic structures as well as guided the development of modern science. However,
while Weber does address aspects of both instrumental rationality as well as value-oriented
rationality, he provides evidence in his writings that instrumental rationality, although flawed, is
in fact the more dependent, reliable and useful of the two processes of rationalization of action.
Weber regards rationalization, the process by which life becomes methodologically
organized as well as the systemization of action, as being essential to explaining and
understanding action. Consequently, on one hand, Weber understands value-oriented rationality
to be the conscious belief in the unconditional and intrinsic valueof a specific form of
personal behavior for itself unrelated to its success.
1
In other words, actions inspired as a result
of value-oriented rationality are undertaken for reasons that can be considered to be intrinsic to

1
Max Weber. Basic Sociological Concepts: Methodology of Social Sciences. (New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction,
2011.) 329
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the actor, independent of whether those actions will lead to success, and can be based on ethical,
aesthetic, religious, or various other reasons.
In contrast, Weber outlines instrumental rationality as the expectations of the behavior of
external objects and other people, together with the employment of this expectation as the
condition or means for the realization of ones own intended, premeditated aims and
purposes.
2
In other words, goal-oriented rationality instigates actions that focus on a mode of
thought that identifies problems and works directly towards their solution in a calculated and
efficient manner.
Weber discusses several methods of value-oriented rationality in his writings, one of which
includes an in-depth study of the Puritans, a sect of Protestants that settled in the colony of New
England. The Puritans brought with them to the New World a host of beliefs that Weber credits
to having had a significant impact on their lifestyle, particularly their intense focus on the
concept of salvation.
3
Classifying them as an active inner-worldly salvation religion
4
, Weber
inadvertently explains that Puritans exemplified value-oriented behaviour by striving for a
practical but apparently irrational goal, the attainment of salvation. They however strived to
attain what is considered by outsider to be an irrational goal through what they considered to be
rational means, frugality in in the pursuit of holiness while still remaining active participants in
society.
This preoccupation with the attainment of salvation was a central belief for Puritans that
stemmed from their conviction in predestination, the belief that God had selected a fixed number
of souls to be saved, and created a seemingly unsurmountable challenge of being amongst the

2
Weber: Methodology of Social Sciences, 329.
3
Daniel Silver. "Max Weber" SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. (Toronto: University of Toronto Scarborough,
2014) Lecture: 01/23/2014
4
Daniel Silver. "Max Weber" SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. (Toronto: University of Toronto Scarborough,
2014) Lecture: 01/30/2014
A l l y | 3

chosen ones.
5
Their rationalized action, stemming from these religious values, was to then
participate in a form of extreme laymen asceticism in which they engaged in self-denial thus
denying themselves of any pleasure. As a result, Puritans engaged in exercising a complete
control over their body, often enduring suffering, and viewing pleasure as both enticement and a
sign of immorality.
Their consequent value-oriented response resulted in practices such as methodological self-
supervision in which many American Puritans would keep a daily record of every blunder they
made in the pursuit of complete control.
6
In essence, all of these actions, when considered in the
light of Webers typology of action can be viewed as a result of their apparently rationalized
religious belief that their purpose and goal in life was the pursuit of possible salvation.
On the other end of the spectrum, Weber notes that scientific rationalization, or in other
words, the application of science to everyday life as well as the development of science itself
serves as an exemplar of not value-oriented rationality but rather instrumental rationality.
Although civilizations had in fact made empirical observations for centuries, never before did
there exist a systematic method of addressing science itself, of recording observations and
exploring ideas.
7
However as this began to change with the development of concept of science as
a noble pursuit, the domain of science witnessed the development of numerous specializations,
the notion of testing ideas and hypotheses under controlled conditions in laboratories and even
championed using methodological thought processes in order to address and approach scientific
problems and issues.

5
Daniel Silver. "Max Weber" SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. (Toronto: University of Toronto Scarborough,
2014) Lecture: 01/16/2014.
6
Daniel Silver. "Max Weber" SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. (Toronto: University of Toronto Scarborough,
2014) Lecture: 02/06/2014.
7
Daniel Silver. "Max Weber" SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. (Toronto: University of Toronto Scarborough,
2014) Lecture: 01/30/2014.
A l l y | 4

Similarly, bureaucracy, the modern organizational structure based upon official
jurisdictional areas which are generally ordered by rules
8
serves as yet another model of the
implementation of instrumental rationality. Disregarding many of the traditional customs of the
past, such as authority according to lineage and status, bureaucracy focuses on addressing the
entire organizational structure in a calculated and efficient manner to ensure that it best achieves
its function and purpose. Consequently, common characteristics found in bureaucratic agencies
include a formal hierarchical structure in which there is a supervision of the lower offices by the
higher ones,
9
a foundational aspect of central planning and centralized decision making.
Additionally, bureaucracies are also organized by functional specialty where work is done by
specialists, and people are organized into divisions based on the category of work they do or
abilities they have,
10
a clearly systematic approach to ensure efficiency. Similar to Puritans,
bureaucracies also keep a detailed catalogue of all original files that documents their actions
11
,
but in contrast to Puritans, this is not a value-oriented inspired action. Instead it serves the
calculated purpose of being used as a reference in the future of the bureaucracy and in order to
guide both their future decisions as well as actions.
In his analysis of both value-oriented as well as instrumental rationalization, Weber is by no
means idealistic in his understanding of these two processes, acknowledging both their strengths
as well as weaknesses. On one hand, he acknowledges that value-oriented rationality can be
useful in inspiring the masses to engage in various campaigns with little rational considerations
but for a seemingly rational goal. Value-rational action pays no regard to the expected
consequences of action; the person acts out of a conviction that duty, honor, beauty, religious

8
Max Weber and Stephen Kalberg. External Form, Technical Superiority, Ethos and Inequality: Max Weber:
Readings and Commentary on Modernity. (Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2005. 194-209.) 194.
9
Weber: External Form, Technical Superiority, Ethos and Inequality, 195.
10
Weber: External Form, Technical Superiority, Ethos and Inequality, 196.
11
Weber: External Form, Technical Superiority, ethos and Inequality, 195.
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pronouncement, piety, or the importance of a cause of whatever kind so demand.
12
In other
words, those acting under the influence of value-oriented rationale can be inspired to engage in
feats of significant personal risk such as the Crusades undertaken by the Christians because of
religious beliefs or as noted before, engage in an extraordinary degree self-denial in the pursuit
of holiness. However, value-oriented rationalization often entails little regard for the
consequences of engaging in an action. Thus, while the appropriate action may be considered
rational based upon value-oriented rationality, it often has not been approached methodologically
thus failing to explore all possible avenues.
In contrast, Weber acknowledges in his works that while instrumental rationality serves as a
threat to individual freedom as the increasing bureaucratization of human life snares individuals
in an "iron cage" of rule-based, rational control, this does not discredit the benefits of
bureaucracy. In essence, Weber notes that bureaucracies constitute one of the most efficient and
rational way in which human activity can be organized as systematic processes and organized
hierarchies are ultimately necessary to maintain order, maximize efficiency and eliminate
favoritism.
13
Furthermore, instrumentally rational action is oriented to the purpose, means and
associated consequences of an act, rationally estimating the relation of means to ends, that of the
ends to the associated consequences as well as that of the various ends
14
In essence,
instrumental rationality in contrast to value-oriented rationality explores the various aspects of an
issue impersonally while systematically attempting to determine the best course of action in light
of the possible consequences.

12
Weber: Methodology of Social Sciences, 330.
13
Daniel Silver. "Max Weber" SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. (Toronto: University of Toronto Scarborough,
2014) Lecture: 01/30/2014.
14
Weber: Methodology of Social Sciences, 331.
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Meanwhile, specifically in regards to sociology Weber notes that in contrast to a holistically
value-oriented rationale, instrumental rationality allows academics to make systematic and
typological distinctions so that they can compare and classify whole ranges of social life based
on the meaning of their actions. Value-oriented rationality, however, would mean that their
judgment and decisions would and can often be clouded by the principles and values they hold
dear to them. In sum, while value-oriented rationality focuses on the intrinsic value
15
of an
action, instrumental rationality is more occupied with the actual aims and purposes
16
of the
action.
In conclusion, both value-oriented rationalization as well as instrumental orientation continue
to play significant roles in influencing action. Modern society itself is a testament to this fact as
noted in Webers study of Puritanism, bureaucracy and science, all domains which have been
influenced by one of these forms of rationality. While it is important to note that Weber never
believed that either form of rationality was exclusive to the other, his works and concepts
regarding the typology of action lend credibility to the fact that he ultimately championed for
instrumental rationality, as it proved to be significantly more dependable and reliable in regards
to making decisions and undertaking action. While it often threatens to remove the meaning
behind actions undertaken, instrumental rationality, as proven by Weber, continues to be one of
the most effective and efficient forms of organization and action.


Works Cited


15
Weber: Methodology of Social Sciences, 329.
16
Weber: Methodology of Social Sciences, 329.
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Silver, Daniel. "Max Weber." SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. University of Toronto
(Scarborough), Toronto. 23 Jan. 2014.
Silver, Daniel. "Max Weber." SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. University of Toronto
(Scarborough), Toronto. 30 Jan. 2014.
Silver, Daniel. "Max Weber." SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. University of Toronto
(Scarborough), Toronto. 16 Jan. 2014.
Silver, Daniel. "Max Weber." SOCB43H3: Sociological Theory. University of Toronto
(Scarborough), Toronto. 06 Feb. 2014.
Weber, Max, and Stephen Kalberg. "External Form, Technical Superiority, Ethos and
Inequality." Max Weber: Readings and Commentary on Modernity. Malden, MA:
Blackwell Pub., 2005. 194-209. Print.
Weber, Max, Hans Heinrich Gerth, and C. Wright Mills. "Motives for the Rejection of the
World." Essays in Sociology. New York: Oxford UP, 1958. N. page. Print.
Weber, Max. "Basic Sociological Concepts." Methodology of Social Sciences. New Brunswick,
NJ: Transaction, 2011. 312-58. Print.