{"id":{"repo_id":"uwtsd","oai_identifier":"oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:2639"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uwtsd/oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:2639","repository":{"repo_id":"uwtsd","name":"University of Wales Trinity Saint David","base_url":"https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/cgi/oai2"},"display":{"title":"Max Weber’s theory of rationality and the messaging of Soviet and American cold war space programs","abstract":"By measuring intentionality through social action, Weber’s Theory of Rationality can reveal the motivations behind the message. Examining the messaging of Cold War space programs through this theoretical framework can reveal hidden layers of complexity, adding richness to our understanding of their meanings. The Soviet and American manned missions culminating in Project Apollo stressed ideology over exploration; spaceflight was a delivery mechanism for state-sponsored propaganda. However, NASA’s post-Apollo, un-manned scientific missions became opportunities to find meaning in the cosmos; they sought knowledge of the universe and offered some in return for audiences they could only hypothesise. The superpower space race was conducted in a context of political and existential threat that manifested in the messaging. Using rhetoric to disguise their intentions, their messaging provides layers of meaning concealed by nationalistic narratives. Weber’s model illustrates that a ‘value narrative’ broadcast by space programs with the goal to deceive or manipulate reveals the pragmatic rationality of the sender and the message. After Apollo, NASA’s scientific missions reversed the messaging dynamic of the manned missions. The messages exist as manifestations of their belief in the intrinsic value of humanity, and a desire to create meaning in the cosmos. Weber’s model reveals that messaging sent out to space with little or no chance of engagement reflects the belief, and value-rationality, of its senders. Determining intentionality is critical to meaningfully decipher the message. Weber’s model reveals the superpowers’ cynical use of value narratives to achieve calculated outcomes, subsuming science and exploration into opportunities to manipulate or control. It also reveals the value-rationality of NASA’s later scientific missions which sought deeper understanding—the ‘conscious belief in the value for its own sake’—to bring meaning to the cosmos. Thus, by revealing the concealed, Weber’s Theory of Rationality provides a valuable framework for understanding truth in messaging.","abstract_html":"By measuring intentionality through social action, Weber’s Theory of Rationality can reveal the motivations behind the message. Examining the messaging of Cold War space programs through this theoretical framework can reveal hidden layers of complexity, adding richness to our understanding of their meanings. The Soviet and American manned missions culminating in Project Apollo stressed ideology over exploration; spaceflight was a delivery mechanism for state-sponsored propaganda. However, NASA’s post-Apollo, un-manned scientific missions became opportunities to find meaning in the cosmos; they sought knowledge of the universe and offered some in return for audiences they could only hypothesise. The superpower space race was conducted in a context of political and existential threat that manifested in the messaging. Using rhetoric to disguise their intentions, their messaging provides layers of meaning concealed by nationalistic narratives. Weber’s model illustrates that a ‘value narrative’ broadcast by space programs with the goal to deceive or manipulate reveals the pragmatic rationality of the sender and the message. After Apollo, NASA’s scientific missions reversed the messaging dynamic of the manned missions. The messages exist as manifestations of their belief in the intrinsic value of humanity, and a desire to create meaning in the cosmos. Weber’s model reveals that messaging sent out to space with little or no chance of engagement reflects the belief, and value-rationality, of its senders. Determining intentionality is critical to meaningfully decipher the message. Weber’s model reveals the superpowers’ cynical use of value narratives to achieve calculated outcomes, subsuming science and exploration into opportunities to manipulate or control. It also reveals the value-rationality of NASA’s later scientific missions which sought deeper understanding—the ‘conscious belief in the value for its own sake’—to bring meaning to the cosmos. Thus, by revealing the concealed, Weber’s Theory of Rationality provides a valuable framework for understanding truth in messaging.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Al-Saud, Lama Mansour Bandar Abdulaziz"],"institution":"University of Wales Trinity Saint David","degree_name":"mphil","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2023,"date_issued":"2023-06","date_published":"2023-06","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:52:59Z","subjects":["B Athroniaeth (Cyffredinol)","BJ Moeseg","BL Crefydd","E151 Unol Daleithiau (Cyffredinol)","HM Cymdeithaseg","HX Sosialaeth. Comiwnyddiaeth. 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The Soviet and American manned missions culminating in Project Apollo stressed ideology over exploration; spaceflight was a delivery mechanism for state-sponsored propaganda. However, NASA’s post-Apollo, un-manned scientific missions became opportunities to find meaning in the cosmos; they sought knowledge of the universe and offered some in return for audiences they could only hypothesise. The superpower space race was conducted in a context of political and existential threat that manifested in the messaging. Using rhetoric to disguise their intentions, their messaging provides layers of meaning concealed by nationalistic narratives. Weber’s model illustrates that a ‘value narrative’ broadcast by space programs with the goal to deceive or manipulate reveals the pragmatic rationality of the sender and the message. After Apollo, NASA’s scientific missions reversed the messaging dynamic of the manned missions. The messages exist as manifestations of their belief in the intrinsic value of humanity, and a desire to create meaning in the cosmos. Weber’s model reveals that messaging sent out to space with little or no chance of engagement reflects the belief, and value-rationality, of its senders. Determining intentionality is critical to meaningfully decipher the message. Weber’s model reveals the superpowers’ cynical use of value narratives to achieve calculated outcomes, subsuming science and exploration into opportunities to manipulate or control. It also reveals the value-rationality of NASA’s later scientific missions which sought deeper understanding—the ‘conscious belief in the value for its own sake’—to bring meaning to the cosmos. Thus, by revealing the concealed, Weber’s Theory of Rationality provides a valuable framework for understanding truth in messaging."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["text"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Max Weber’s theory of rationality and the messaging of Soviet and American cold war space programs"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.sponsor":["University of Wales Trinity Saint David"],"dc:creator":["Al-Saud, Lama Mansour Bandar Abdulaziz"],"dc:date":["2023-06-15"],"dc:date.issued":["2023-06"],"dc:description.abstract":["By measuring intentionality through social action, Weber’s Theory of Rationality can reveal the motivations behind the message. Examining the messaging of Cold War space programs through this theoretical framework can reveal hidden layers of complexity, adding richness to our understanding of their meanings. 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The messages exist as manifestations of their belief in the intrinsic value of humanity, and a desire to create meaning in the cosmos. Weber’s model reveals that messaging sent out to space with little or no chance of engagement reflects the belief, and value-rationality, of its senders. Determining intentionality is critical to meaningfully decipher the message. Weber’s model reveals the superpowers’ cynical use of value narratives to achieve calculated outcomes, subsuming science and exploration into opportunities to manipulate or control. It also reveals the value-rationality of NASA’s later scientific missions which sought deeper understanding—the ‘conscious belief in the value for its own sake’—to bring meaning to the cosmos. Thus, by revealing the concealed, Weber’s Theory of Rationality provides a valuable framework for understanding truth in messaging."],"dc:format":["text"],"dc:identifier.doi":["10.82227/repository.uwtsd.ac.uk.00002639"],"dc:identifier.grantnumber":["UWTSD"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/2639/1/2639%20Al-Saud%2C%20Lama%20%282023%29%20M.A%20Max%20Weber%27s%20Theory%20of%20Rationality.pdf"],"dc:publisher.commercial":["University of Wales Trinity Saint David"],"dc:publisher.department":["Traethodau Meistr","Institute of Education and Humanities: Social Policy, Youth and Communities"],"dc:publisher.institution":["University of Wales Trinity Saint David"],"dc:relation.isreferencedby":["https://repository.uwtsd.ac.uk/id/eprint/2639/"],"dc:subject":["B Athroniaeth (Cyffredinol)","BJ Moeseg","BL Crefydd","E151 Unol Daleithiau (Cyffredinol)","HM Cymdeithaseg","HX Sosialaeth. Comiwnyddiaeth. 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