dehumanixation
Jonathan Fietkau Dehumanization Morality and the ability to choose freely are the two things that set us apart from the animals. Since the dawn of time humankind has been given the ability to choose right from wrong. It seems that the spread of rationality has caused the moral compass of our society to change directions, to make us lose track of what we know is right. Some say that knowledge brings power. In some cases I agree, however people have used knowledge to rationalize what they do to get power. In this quest for power we have lost our moral compass(or guidance). “For wisdom is much grief and he who increases in knowledge increases sorrow“(Bible, Eccl, 1:18). Weber, Durkheim, Marx, Postman, and Ritzer understood this, and approached this idea from different angles. Rationalization has caused us to lose our moral guidance, and made us less human. My point is that rationalization leads to dehumanization. It is dehumanizing for five reasons: we lose moral guidance, we enter a process of alienation, family life is lost, health, religion loses it’s basis in society, and our meaningful symbols (Rolemodels, etc.) are replaced. One of the greatest adaptations to the idea of rationalization is George Ritzer and his book The McDonaldization of Society. Briefly summarized, Weber claimed that the modern epoch can be characterized by a relentless drive towards rational efficiency in every aspect of our lives. Ritzer draws heavily from this idea in this book. Ritzer defines McDonaldization as "the process by which the principles of the fast-food restaurant are coming to dominate more and more sectors of American society as well as the rest of the world" (Ritzer, McDonaldization, 1). In trying to rationalize things we tend to try to make things more efficient. It is the process in which the practical application of knowledge is used to reach the desired end. Our society is a capitalist one that preaches the idea that anyone who is willing to work hard for something will get it. Because of this belief our wealth is believed to be an assessment of who we are. If we are poor it is believed that it is because we are lazy. What clothes we wear, car we drive, or house we live in is a symbol of our status.