Rethinking the Problem of Social Rationalization—— From the Perspective of Habermas

The problem of social rationalization is both a very complex theoretical problem and a very important practical problem.In The Theory of Communicative Action,rationality of action is closely related to social rationalization,in other words,the problem of actional rationality is the problem of social rationalization.If the problem of rationality is the logical starting point of The Theory of Communicative Action,then the problem of social rationalization is the goal of The Theory of Communicative Action.In Habermass perspective,the problem of social rationalization has not only undergone a transition from a conception of historical philosophy to a sociological model,but also a transition from cultural rationalization to social rationalization.“Cultural Rationalization” includes the rationalization of science and technology,literature and art,as well as the rationalization of legal and moral concepts; “Social Rationalization” includes economic rationalization,administrative rationalization,and legal rationalization.This means that social rationalization refers not only to the expansion of purposive rational action in the social life sphere,but also to the expansion of communicative rational action in the life world.Thus,in order to overcome the colonization of the life world and solve the crisis of modern industrial civilization,it is necessary to rebalance the problem of the relationship between Instrumental Rationality and Value Rationality,and to reconcile the problem of the relationship between rationalization of system and rationalization of life world.Only in this way can social rationalization be truly realized.In general,Habermass theory of social rationalization is intertwined with its contributions and defects.