Value rational action
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Value-rational type
The value-rational type is one of the four ideal types of action that were created by Max Weber.
Ideal types
Max Weber created this ideal types as stereotypes, simplified models of real actions of societies. Although the ideal types display the meanings which actors make sense of their actions, in reality the ideal types of action do not exist. The four ideal types of action characterize Weber's theory of man.
Rationality
Rationality was the guiding thread of Max Weber his work (Gregory et al., 2009, p. 57). Weber felt that rationality hasn't in any way advanced human well-being (Gregory et al., 2009). Max Weber's concept of 'value rational action' is part of the broader concept Weber's theory of man where Max Weber outlines his characterization of four types of human action, ideal types. The second of the four types of human action is: value rational action.
Value rational action
The value-rational type, also called wertreational, is an activity that is valued in itself, which means an actor is committed to this value. In this case, not the achievement of a certain goal by best means is important but the values determinde the choice of means as well as the end (Campbell, 1981, p. 177). Value rational action states that this form of human action is based and goal-oriented on the value of the activity in question. Both the goal and the means to reach the goal are determined by values. Weber states that in all rational human actions, value is an underlying element because rational action always implies a choice of value made by the agent (Campbell, 1981).
Example
Imagine the following situation. Bicycle company 'Giant' produces top of the line track cycles. The cycles mainly maintain the fabric: carbon. The raw material is bought and transported out of Nigeria. The board of the company discovers that the workers of the company in Nigeria receive an extreme low wage per hour. Although the price for the raw material strongly increases, the board of Giant decides to find another supplier of carbon known for having a better working environment and for paying higher wages. Because of the new investments for the carbon company a lot of new jobs are created and the workers from the former company are able to get a new job with an higher income.
The situation described above gives an example of having a value rational goal and reaching the goals with value rational means. The board of Giant could choose to produce bicycles for an lower cost price but they decide to move their supply market to another place known for the better working environment. The board also recognises the problems for the workers in the factory where many jobs disappear and they try to give the workers and alternative job. When such an action is made out of values it is called: 'value rational action' following Max Weber.
References
- Campbell, T., (1981). Seven Theories of Human Society. Oxford: Claredon Press.
- Gregory, D., Johnston, R., Pratt, G., Watts, M. & Whatmore, S., (2009). The Dictionary of Human Geography, 5th edition. London: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Contributors
- Published by Evelien de Beer and Richard Huttinga
- Links added by Aafke Brus --AafkeBrus 10:49, 31 October 2011 (CET)
- page ehanced by Lieke Vogels, 10 oktober 2012
