Nelaturu Sreekanth ReddyAIR 151 · CSE 2024 · 356 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
According to Max Weber, any action that has both meaning and orientation can be called as social action.
Body · points and prose
Types of social actions according to Max Weber
| Social Action | Means | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| 1) Zweck rational action | Rational | Rational |
| Ex: Bureaucracy | ||
| 2) Wert rational action | Rational | Values |
| Ex: Helping blind person on road. | ||
| 3) Traditional rational | Tradition | Tradition |
| Ex: Fasting on Karwachauth. | ||
| 4) Emotional rational | Emotions | Emotions |
| Ex: Father's angry over sons exam failure. |
Shift in patterns of social action due to emergence of modern society
→ From pre-modern societies to modern societies there has been shift in various values such as traditional and religious values to more legal rational actions and values.
Ex: Khappanchayats → Bureaucracy
→ In terms of authority and bureaucracy there has been a shift from traditional rational actions to Legal rational actions.
Ex: Rule by Dominant caste → Democratisation of power
→ In Webers work "Protestant Ethics and spirit of Capitalism", we can see the rise of Capitalism due to the traditional rational actions of Calvinism.
→ There is also a shift from emotional rational actions to wert rational actions due to emphasis on values in modern society.
Ex: Donations → Donations to uphold compassion and empathy.
→ In modern society many traditional rational actions are argued as instrumental rational actions due to the unintended consequences.
Ex: Fasting on the day of Ekadasi → Fasting helps in detoxing and improves health.
→ Even in modern society traditional rational actions by charismatic leadership are replaced by legal rational constitution.
Impacts of rationalisation of social actions
→ Increased efficiency and productivity. → Loss of autonomy and creativity. → Iron cage of bureaucracy. → Securalisation in the society.
Close · a way forward
Even though these shifts in patterns improved efficiency and productivity, they have also led to alienation and disenchantment. Therefore a fine balance is needed between rationality and values to form a better society.