Final answer:
The functionalist perspective, specifically the Davis-Moore thesis, suggests that social stratification and resulting inequality motivate individuals to work harder and be industrious by rewarding more important and harder-to-fill positions with higher compensation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theoretical perspective suggesting that inequality is a natural consequence of the organizing process of stratification, and that it motivates people to be industrious, is known as the functionalist perspective. Within this view, the Davis-Moore thesis asserts that social stratification, with its unequal distribution of rewards, serves a purpose in society. It posits that the rewards system encourages individuals to pursue higher education and fill highly skilled, difficult positions. The principle is that the greater the position's importance and the scarcity of qualified individuals, the higher the rewards should be. This, in turn, incentivizes education and hard work, promoting industry and efficiency.