Instrumental Rationality and the Instrumental Doctrine ABSTRACT: In opposition to the instrumental doctrine of rationality, I argue that the rationality of the end served by a strategy is a necessary condition of the rationality of the strategy itself: means to ends cannot be rational unless the ends are rational. First, I explore cases-involving ‘proximate’ ends (that is, ends whose achievement is instrumental to the pursuit of some more fundamental end) — where even instrumentalists must concede
The Concept of Efficiency This article aims to give an analysis of the concept of efficiency. The importance of such an analysis lies in the fact that the role which efficiency plays in different sectors of our society leads to opposite evaluations resulting in a clash of opinions concerning this role. In order to clarify this situation, I first trace the historical roots of the concept. This brief historical reconnaissance shows that ‘efficiency’ is not a unitary concept. Moreover, I also argue
At the beginning of the semester, we were asked to write about ourselves in a brief essay. I wrote about who I identified as, what my plans would be for the future and what role music played in my life. In my essay, I was a straight-A student, grew up in a small town, wanted to become a law student, and enjoyed singing as a tool for relaxation. Looking back on what I wrote, I am surprised at how much has changed in such a short period. My major has changed to Sociology, and I feel no need to pursue
focuses mainly on the problem of rationality and rationalisation process throughout Western culture (Swidler, 1973: 35) . Modern Western society is becoming rationalised increasingly according to Weber (Ritzer, 1998: 42). After Weber, his thought is applied by Ritzer (1983) to the fast-food restaurant in American society, which is called McDonaldisation. Both two theories regard formal rationality as the foundation
Music, a popular outlet amongst the teen community for exploring emotions and blowing off steam. Times have changed, and the way music and lyrics are perceived has developed in a violent fashion. According to new studies, that have occurred, violent music lyrics increase aggressive thoughts and feelings. I chose this topic because music is such an influential part of our lives that it often dictates the mood we seize to exist in. If violent thoughts occur, what can come of it? Teens and the human
In today’s pliable, fad-driven societies, music holds a key role in influencing modern culture. Through music, lyrics, and music videos, specific lifestyles and activities can be suggested and advertised. These activities can range from becoming a follower of Christ to earning respect to being promiscuous. This alone proves that music plays an influential part in the daily lives of modern societies. This also shows that music’s effect can be positive or negative. With this evidence comes a question:
Throughout history society has been enchanted by music. Whether it is ritual, emotional release, religious, or just plainly relaxing to music has been at the center of our society. We use music to express ourselves, to tell stories, and let other into our thoughts. However, we often wonder if what we are saying has an effect on the listening audience. Recently, music references have been made to link violent and deviant behavior to music. The key social issues likely to arise in the next twenty
attempts an integrated appraisal of the distinctive strengths and limitations such diverse Modes confer to the approaches to change that invoke and utilise them. 1. A Model-Ideal Conceptualisation of Organisational Goal-Directed-Activity, Rationality, Strategicality, and Organisational Change When planned and goal-directed, fully rational organisational action, like any other ideal form of goal-directed-action, relies on activity generated by the decomposition of a goal-structure, a term
formal (functional or instrumental) rationality that undergirds McDonaldization. In the present work, Ritzer continues to sound the alarm by depicting McDonaldization as "a largely one-way process in which a series of American innovations are being aggressively exported to much of the rest of the world" (8). Although the author acknowledges that the McDonaldization thesis is rooted in Weber's reflections on rationality, specifically the notion of the "iron cage of rationality," he prefers the "simplicity"
As David Machin stated in 2010, “lyrics are not only about artists telling stories but also communicating discourses about their identity.” (Machin D, 2010: 78) indeed, the lyrics of a song play an important role in connecting with people and providing people with reflexive identities, when people listen to the music, the linguistic meaning offers the audience with better representation of the music and creates more emotional connection between the singers and the audiences. Also, as different music
Why do people find comfort in certain music genres, and how does music affect our behavior? It is known by most that music can and likely does affect our behavior, many people wonder how and why it affects so many people in such diverse ways. Could it be because music makes us feel a certain way? Do different music genres make us think different thoughts? What kind of thoughts do they cause us to come up with? Can music cause us to act a certain way? Does music have any health benefits for humans
Plato's Moral Psychology I argue that Plato's psychological theories are motivated by concerns he had about moral theory. In particular, Plato rejects the modern account of rationality as the maximization of subjectively evaluated self-interest because, had he adopted such an account, his theory of justice would be subject to criticisms which he holds are fatal to the contractarian theory of justice. While formulating a theory to remain within ethical constraints sometimes violates the canons
The Importance of Rationality in Homer’s Odyssey In the epic poem, Odyssey, Homer provides examples of the consequences of impulsive and irrational thinking, and the rewards of planning and rationality. Impulsive actions prove to be very harmful to Odysseus. His decisions when he is escaping the cave of the Cyclops lead to almost all his troubles through his journey. As Odysseus flees the cave, he yells back "Cyclops - if any man on the face of the earth should ask you who blinded you, shamed
In Sigmund Freud’s, The Future of an Illusion, he studies religious foundations and the influence of religion on civilization and social principles. As he explores the psychological depths relating to religion, he also portrays a scientific and rational civilization. In turn, he reveals his hope for an ideal world where humans surpass their feelings of helplessness and insignificance to live in an improved civilization based on reason and the increase of knowledge. Through his analysis and ideas
Fever Crumb Characters In the beginning of the story the main character, Fever Crumb, is rational and reasonable. “Then there was her hair, or rather, lack of hair. The order was keen to hurry humankind into the future, and they believed that hair was unnecessary. Fever shaved her head every other morning.” (8). This quote shows how Fever is rational because she removes things from her life that have more to do with comfort and beauty, which she believes to be irrational, than have to do with
Throughout modern European history science has gradually developed into “the dominant representation of the social world”. Intellectuals are continually discovering new approaches of explaining and viewing the world. Previously, the common belief was the medieval view of nature, or that nature could be explained simply by appearances. As stated in Perry, “the Scientific Revolution brought a new, mechanical concept of nature that enabled westerners to discover and explain the laws of nature mathematically”
Guilty or not guilty, all citizens deserve a thorough trial to defend their rights. Formulating coherent stories about events and circumstances almost cost a young boy his life. In Twelve Angry Men, 1957, a single juror named Mr. Davis, who was initially the only one of 12 jurors to vote not guilty against an 18 year old boy accused of first degree murder, did his duty to save the life of the boy by allowing his mind to rationalize the cohesive information presented by the court and its witnesses
or service’s quality. Finally, through the application of nonhuman tecnologies, control is being dehumanized. Ritzer writes, “Rational systems inevitably spawn irrationalities that limit, eventually compromise, and perhaps even undermine their rationality” (Ritzer 123). He goes on to say that rational systems are often
Incrementalism follows the same steps as the rational decision making model, but recognize limits to rationality. It is both a model of how decisions are made and a description of how contending interest may react in making current policy. Incrementalism uses and builds what is already known, without relying on reanalyzing things that have been done already
The strange creature did not deserve the disrespect of the townsfolk, but acceptance of this being was not to be. In the short story, “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the appearance of a winged man causes a great upheaval in the town villagers, because of his looks and foreign speech. Since he did not conform to their concept, of what is right and good in their world, the villager’s behavior was shameful. One can only surmise the mistreatment of such a creature