The meaning of rationality

pp. 115-134

in: Martin Albrow, Max Weber's construction of social theory, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 1990

Abstract

In this chapter I shall consider the scope of the idea which was the frame, burden and resource for the whole of Weber's thought. I will do this by drawing upon those references to it which are incidental and non-technical in his writing, where he is drawing upon the long tradition of Western rationalism in a quite unproblematical manner. The next chapter will turn to his specific technical usage of rationality in the context of the formation of social scientific concepts.