Goal rationality

From Geography

To interpretate human behaviour Max Weber designed several ideal types. These ideal types are simplified models of social activities. ideal types are ideas of action so they are not moral: they don’t represent good or bad types of action. These ideal types are extrapolations of selected aspects of action which form a intelligible complex in which we can understand human actual behaviour. (Campbell ,1981, p.175). Important note is that the way people are acting can be different but there are principles of action that can remain the same (ideal types). In total there are four ideal types: goal rational-, value-rational-, affective- and traditional action. We are going deeper in goal rational action.

Max Weber defines goal rational action as acting where expectations of others behaviour are being used to make rational consideration for reaching your own goal. Who is acting goal rational is pointing on relations between goals, instruments and side-effects. Possible instruments for reaching your goal are calculated on effectivity. Besides that goals are compared with expected side effects. Finally the relative importance of alternative goals can be considered. Ergo: goal rational acting is an instrumental form of rationality; effectiveness of relation between instrument and goal plays a central role.

Geographical example of goal rational acting. Travelling to Nijmegen. Which travelmode I will choose? By car? Travel time is short (++). Fuel: Expensive (--) By train? Travel time little longer than by car (+). Free public transport (++) By bicycle? Travel time much longer (--). Free (++).

Taking aspects of travel time and costs into consideration I will go by train to Nijmegen. NB. These aspect are for me important. Aspects will differ for each person.

References

• Campbell, T. (1981). Seven Theories of Human Society. Clarendon Press: Oxford.

Contributors

page enhanced and links added by --SusanVerbeij 08:05, 5 October 2011 (UTC)