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Rationality and Freedom: Weber and Beyond *
Author(s) -
LEVINE Donald N.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
sociological inquiry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.446
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1475-682X
pISSN - 0038-0245
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-682x.1981.tb01021.x
Subject(s) - rationalization (economics) , rationality , hegelianism , german , sociology , epistemology , argument (complex analysis) , positive economics , philosophy , economics , chemistry , linguistics , biochemistry
In the tradition of German social thought from Kant and Hegel through Toennies and Simmel, the development of rationality in modern Europe is associated with an increase of human freedom. Weber's work departs from that tradition by providing an incomparably differentiated framework for the analysis of rationality and by associating modern European rationalization with a curtailment of freedom. More careful examination of Weber's oeuvre, however, indicates that he, too, connected rationalization with the growth of freedom in many respects. His amended argument remains valuable today, although ways in which it stands to be improved by incorporating subsequent analyses are suggested.