The Relevance of Culture to Modernity:Revisiting Max Weber' s theoretical legacy

This essay examines the limitations of Weber' s conception of modernity from the perspective of how culture relates to modernity.It argues that Weber is simplistic in defining formal rationality as the general feature of modern culture.This simplistic perception makes it impossible for Weber or Weberians to explain the possible affinity between non-Western traditions (the Confucian tradition in this case)and modernity , as well as the possibility for Western modernity to transcend formal rationality in its cultural sphere.This essay further argues that the reason for Weber' s simplicity lies in his rigid 244 classification of formal vs.substantive rationality in his typology of social actions.Under the framework of his typology , he is unable to perceive the continuous influences of traditional cultures (Western and non-Western)on the progress of modernity in the West and elsewhere , as well as the coexistence of formal and substantive rationality in the context of modernity.

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