The discussion implied in this paper is associated to the confrontation between instrumental rationality and substantive rationality. Starting from this endless debate, the paper demonstrates that the professional identity that emerges of the complementary aspects between the two rationalities still predominantly instrumental, but with twinkle of substantivity. In this case study, the health professional chosen was the physician. Thus, qualitative interviews were carried out to establish influence indicators for both rationalities in the formation of the identity of this specific professional. It was possible to identify that, regardless the colonization capacity of the instrumental rationality in the imposition of routines, hierarchies and knowledge fragmentation, it is impossible to deny the space conquered by the substantive rationality in the process of construction of self-achieved professional identities, forcing the individual to reconsider his work ideology.
Instrumental rationality; Substantive rationality; Identity; Work; Self-achievement
