MAX Weber - Dr. Smith PDF

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Max Weber (vaber) 1864-1920 02/22/18

● Arguably of the most influential sociological theorist of all time ● Thought of himself as a micro-sociologist ○ He actually talked about macro-level things ● Credited with the symbolic interaction tradition ○ But in many ways was a structural-functionalist ● Was instrumental in sociology, law and history ● Known for his leadership, authority and symbolic interactionism ● People thought of him as a historical sociologist ● Weber wanted his theories to be generalizable. He wanted good external validity. ○ He sought to connect the generalizable with the specific to create (socially constructed) concepts for empirical study and research ● Also included in conflict theory, ethnomethodology, critical, rational choice theory

Methodology ➢ Examined history to look at the causes and consequences of change and society and the cultural values of that society ➢ Believed values should be kept out of research and sociology (kind of) ○ Values should be restricted to the time before social research begins. They should

shape what we choose to study. ■

Weber thought values should be left at the door of studies.

History and Sociology ➢ Sociology should look at the past, but instead of trying to uncover universal laws, history should be used as a series of empirical events to develop general concepts to new social change across time. ➢ Verstehen ○ People's values and opinions go into their understanding of social phenomena???? Causalities ➢ How one event caused another event to happen. This allows us to predict with a certain level of probability that one thing will lead to another ○ Things we can typically predict ➢ EX: The Protestant Ethic was one of the causal factors in the rise of the modern spirit of capitalism. ➢ Weber was all about ideal types. ○ An ideal type is a concept constructed by social scientists to capture essential features of some social phenomena. ■

Ideal is the most important conceptual tool

○ Weber wanted values out of sociological studies and research. ○ EX: Talking about politics in classrooms would be inappropriate.

Substantive sociology ➢ Basic paradox ➢ Espoused the importance of micro-level research, put in practice his work. His focus was macro-level research. ➢ Weber says sociology should be a science. He was concerned with causality. He used interpretive understand (verstehen) ➢ Economic standing (class) ➢ Their social prestige (status) Structures of authority ➢ Operational - legal authority ○ The ideal typical bureaucracy. Ultra-rational-efficient ○ Leadership - president of US ➢ Charismatic authority ○ Unique/ unusual character and/or abilities unusual ○ [WEBER] That set him apart from his subordinates ➢ Traditional authority ○ Power held by those b/c it is the way it has always been done. ○ Gerontocracy - rule by elders primary patriarch leaders who inherit their positions.

02.27.18 Rationalization ➢ There are several types of rationality ○ Practical rationality - where people accept their reality and look for the most efficient way and expedient way to achieve their goals ○ Theoretical rationality - works at a more abstract level and sometimes even at the metaphysical level ■

Not really something we would use today. Mainly sorcerer's would use this

○ Substantive rationality - grows out of clusters of values ● While rationalisation is central to two of Weber's primary topics ( bureaucracies and capitalism) it would be a stretch to say that he constructed an overarching theory (a theory to explain all 3 rationalities) Rationalization in various settings A. Economy - rationality first developed as workshops and then outright industry (as capitalism?) pushed out traditional forms of economic arrangement that are less rational B. Religion - rationalization was the force that eroded away religious based thinking in society while a professional priesthood (Catholic priests) brought increased rationality into religion itself. C. Law - law changed from a cultural system embedded in the values of premodern

societies into a formal system of rules in modern society D. Polity - over time, increasingly complex administrative actions undertaken by the state and other powerful organizations meant more rational based types of administration were necessary. E. The City - relative to feudalism, urbanization provided a more rational way to organize physical space and environment F. Art forms - art becomes routinized via rationalization Oxidant - western countries AND the united states Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism ● Weber wanted to know how capitalism came to be ● He based most of his theory on calvinist ➢ Paths to salvation ○ Entwined with both rationality and capitalism ➢ Calvinist: a type of protestant denomination and Weber’s mother was one ○ They believe in predestination - some people were going to go to heaven and some were not. ➢ The original protestant ethic was largely a means to prove to the self and other that they were saved [religiously] there by legitimating inequalities as part of God’s plan ➢ Calvinist values was a religious commitment to work and keep busy. These values evolved into the spirit of capitalism which is a secular celebration of work, activity, investment,

thrift and wealth in itself ➢ Chinese culture is not conducive to capitalism ○ Reason 1: structural barriers- the small household of chinese families a state run by closed off personnel and an abstract language hindered the development of capitalism. ○ Reason 2: Taoism (Chinese religion) - a dagma based on accepting the world as it is rather than making it into one. This hindered the development of capitlaism ○...