Max Weber
Max Weber
Rational-purposeful Action :
This action may be rationally
expedient if it is based on
logical or scientific grounds, This action
plurality of means and entails a complicated
ends. The ends of
goals, values) are either taken as means action (for example
to the fulfilment of
other ends, or are treated as if they are set in
way action becomes purely concrete. In this
Compare two individuals whoinstrumental. Example: If we
are trying to maximize their
income over the course of a year, we might find that one
uses far more effective means to achieve this person
goal than the
other. He might cheat on his tax return, take a
sell drugs to workmates. We would describe the second job or
individuals as
more purposively rational than one who acquires and keeps less
money. Within the domain of zweck-rational action it is possible
to compare the degrees of rationality that various individuals
exhibit. In the above example, it is assumed that all individuals
will want to maximise their income. This goal is fixed and it is
also a means to other goals for example buying a new car,
spending vacation in some hill stations, moving around
European Countries etc.
Classical economic theory treats individuals as if they were
rationally purposeful. According to this theory, individuals will
always try to maximize their utility. According to Weber, action
cannot be meaningful unless it is goal oriented. Rational action
in relation to agoal corresponds roughly to Pareto's logical
action. It is the action of the engineer who is building a bridge
or the General who wants to win a victory. In all these cases
Zweckrational action is distinguished by the fact that the actor
conceives his goal clearly and combines means with a view to
attaining it.
Value-rational Action : Action is rational in relation to a
specific value. This action occurs when individuals use rational -
that is effective means to achieve goals or ends that are defined
5.8 Max Weber (1864-1920)
Rational-purposeful
covered are primarily quidedstage. In this
stage the
by reason and discrimination. The
actions
4. Fashion
5. Convention
6. Law.
1. Usage: described behaviour performed simply to conform
to a style of pattern, for exanmple, social etiquette.
2. Custom: described habitual Dractices with roOts n
antiquity.
3. Rational orientation: desianated that variety of social
action which is consequence of actors orienting themselvesS to
one another on the basis of similar ulterior expectations, for
example mutual self-interest.
4. Fashion: described social action which is the result of
adherence to contemporary fad.
5. Convention: designated that type of social action
performed in recognition of strong moral obligation in the
manner of Sumner's mores.
6. Law: described that type of social action performed in
recognitionof codified expectation and restriction.
Sociology concerns the rationality of individual and collective
behaviour. It is the science of human action "both
comprehensive and explicative. Weber has 'a kind of existential
philosophy." He wants to know the manner men live, here and
now. According to him sociology is deeply connected with
history and with culture.
Criticisms: Weber's theory of social action especially his
typology of social action has encountered severe criticisms.
1. Talcott Parsons criticises Weber for stressing too
much the element of voluntary subjective meaning of
the actor. For Parsons, the action of an actor is
involuntary: it is behaviour directed by the meanings
attached by actors to things and people.
2. A. Schultz criticises Weber for not providing a
satisfactory account of meaningful action since if
meaning is too much divorced from the actor it
becomes an objective category imposed by the
sociologists.
Max Weber (1864-1920)
5.13
3. According to P.S.
action Cohen, Weber's typology of social
is
confusing due to Weber's emphasis on
Subjective meaningof the actor. Cohen explains with an
example of traditional action whereby a
tribute to his chief because it is commoner pays
II the commoner can aive no customary.
payment other than that it other reason for making the
has
may be treated as non-rational.always been so then the conduct
It may be called rational, if he
gives as his reason for pavment that the chief is the
people and hence entitled to tribute. It may be father the
of
the goal of pleasing the chief is a valued value-rationa
end and the means
adopted produces the desired result. It may be goal-rational -
the tribute has always been paid because it
and enables one to obtain the favour from himpleases the chiet
and the failure
to pay may displease the chief and induce him to
offender. punish the
To this Weber might reply that whether the
commoner can
give reason for payment or not, he will make it because he has
considered no alternative.
Despite the above shortcomings Weber's theory of social
action has inspired sociologists of subsequent generations.