Rational System

Rationality system

Max Weber provided a vision of how modern societies differ from earlier types of traditional societies. He emphasized that human ideas shape society which means societies differ in how their members think about the world. He argued that ideas involving beliefs and values are keys to understanding society. Modern societies for him are the product not only of new technology and capitalism but of a new way of thinking among individuals of the society. He compared social patterns of traditional society and modern society using a concept called “ideal type” an abstract statement of essential characteristics of any social phenomenon.

Tradition and rationality

For comparing tradition and rationality, Weber compared how members of society view the world. He declared that members of preindustrial society follow tradition while people in modern industrial society possess rationality. According to him, tradition is sentiments and beliefs passed from generation to generation while rationality is a system of deliberate, matter-of-fact calculation of the most efficient means to accomplish a particular goal. I

n a rational system, the people consider traditions as one kind of information and they think and act on the basis of present and future consequences evaluating schooling, jobs, and relationships in terms of investment and rates of return.  He asserts that the rationalization of society is the drastic shift of human thought from tradition to rationality. 

The product of this shift is the replacement of sentimental ties of the past by scientific thinking and technology. The technological development of a society depends upon how members of the society understand their world. Many people had the opportunity to adopt new technology but only in the rational culture climate people exploit scientific discoveries to ignite the industrial revolution.

Characteristics of rationality system of social organization

There are seven characteristics of a rationality system of modern social organization.

1.      Distinctive social institution

In traditional social organization, the family was one of the institutions for all activities to provide for human needs. Gradually religious, economic, and political systems separated from family. On the basis of the rationality system of modern society, education and health became separate institutions.  The separation of social institutions is a rational strategy to address human needs more efficiently.

2.      Large-scale organization

In traditional society, political officials used to supervise religious observance, public works, and warfare. In modern rational society, the government employs millions of people to work for large organizations or societies.

3.      Specialized tasks

Individuals perform a wide range of specialized jobs in a rational society. A number of occupations are found in a rational system.

4.      Rational system values personal discipline

Achievement, success and efficiency are considered as cultural values which encourage self-discipline in a rational system of social organization.

5.      Rational society involves awareness of time

In traditional societies, time was measure according to the rhythm of the sun and seasons. In a rational system, time is effectively managed for different events and activities in hours and minutes. The phrase “time is money” is of great importance.

6.      Technical competence

Members of traditional social the organization evaluated one another largely on the basis of who they are and how they are joined to others in the web of kinship. In the modern rationality system prompts people to judge people according to what they are, means what are their skills and abilities.

7.      Rational system is impersonal

In a rational system, technical competence takes priority over close relationships rendering the world impersonal. People interact with each other as specialists concerned with particular tasks. People tend to devalue personal feelings and emotions as irrational.