Weber: Rationalization

• Traditional societies- reliance on past tradition to define “truth” Problem- limits change and progress

• Modern societies- reliance on efficiency & individual decisions to discover “truth”

• Problems of over rationalization

  • dehumanization; alienation
  • iron cage
  • over conformity
  • means justified by the end or goal

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Please refer back to the materials in Chapters 1 and 2 and in Chapter 4 and 7 on Weber’s ideas about rationalization and bureaucracy.

In addition, please consult the text re Marx’s ideas about modernized societies. Note that although Marx was extremely critical of capitalism; he was also optimistic about progress.