Weber treated rationality as a question about kinds, not degrees of action

Evidence

Weber considers rationality most notably in relation to technical control through calculative thinking, although there are texts where he “admits that the irrational element applies to every experience” (Sica 1988, 172). Thus, he is resistant to calling a certain type of human action rational and another irrational: “The good question was not to ask: is this action rational … but rather to explore what is the rationality of this action” (Szelenyi 2016, 5). Weber ultimately appears aware of the possible return of reenchanting prophets and “a new magic” in the memorable final passage of The Protestant Ethic. — Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, Speculative Communities, 629

Categorization

• XREF: Relates to the reader’s finance interests — the ‘what is the rationality of this action’ frame is a useful lens for speculatory behavior that looks irrational from outside. — connects to: Weber treated rationality as a question, not a binary classification — Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, Speculative Communities: Living With…, 430; A person’s real philosophy is expressed in action, not declared belief — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1180

Broader Connections

• Weber treated rationality as a question, not a binary classification #corroborates (0.90) — Aris Komporozos-Athanasiou, Speculative Communities, 430
• A person’s real philosophy is expressed in action, not declared belief #expands (0.75) — Antonio Gramsci, Selections from the Prison Notebooks, 1180