Final answer:
Max Weber's writings on bureaucracy and the rationalization of society were foundational for modern public administration and civil service systems, making the statement a. true.
Step-by-step explanation:
Max Weber, a German sociologist, philosopher, and political economist, is indeed considered one of the founding figures in the field of sociology and had a significant influence on the development of principles in public administration and civil service systems.
Max Weber's writings and principles have indeed laid the groundwork for modern public administration and the systems of civil service. Weber's concern about the rationalization of society stemmed from the transitions brought by the Industrial Revolution, focusing on the development of a bureaucratic society where bureaucracy is seen as the most rational form of organizational governance.
His perspectives on bureaucracy interpreted it as an inevitable ruling force in society, shaping the administrative systems that we are familiar with today, such as the merit-based civil service system. Hence, the given statement is true.