Final answer:
The iron cage is a metaphor used to describe a society where individuals are trapped by institutions and bureaucracy, unable to escape and innovate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The iron cage is a metaphor used by Max Weber to describe a society where individuals are trapped by institutions and bureaucracy, unable to escape and innovate. It refers to a society with rigid rules and norms, where individuals lack the possibility of change and are forced to conform to the system. Weber believed that this would lead to a sense of disenchantment and unhappiness. For example, in a rationalized society, we have supermarkets replacing family-owned stores and chain restaurants replacing local eateries.