韦伯合理性理论评议

Commentaries on Weber's Theory of Rationality

韦伯将黑格尔的理性概念改造成合理性概念 ,并赋予合理性概念以社会建构之意义 ,他把“现代性”等同于“合理性” ,将“现代化进程”等同于“理性化过程” ,从而把狭义上被看作是人的思考能力的理性拓展到人的行动和历史、社会等现实领域 ,成为人的行动及社会所具有的特性 ,以说明西方现代性的演进及其本质。韦伯合理性理论对现代性的诊断已经成为西方现代性话语的转折点 ,在他之后的现代性理论大都对他的理论有着一种“路径依赖”关系。

Weber transforms the concept of'reason'in Hegel's philosophy into'rationality',and gives a new meaning of social construction.In consequence,he interprets'Modernity'as'Rationality','Process of Modernization'as'Process of Rationalization'in an attempt to apply the concept of reason,which refers to thinking in narrow sense,to the fields of history,society and man's action,to stipulate the characteristics of man's action and sociey,to explain the evolution and nature of modernity.Weber's Theory of Rationality has become the turning point of the discourse of modernity,and provided a historical foundation for the theories of modernity after it.