Sociological Theory
Department of Sociology and Anthropology
UMD


BORN APRIL 21, 1864 INTO A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURIAL FAMILY
VERY INTELLECTUAL FAMILY
WEBER WAS SICKLY, SHY, AND WITHDRAWN
ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF HEIDELBERG (HIS SECOND UNIVERSITY) WHERE ALONG WITH HIS STUDIES HE DRANK A LOT AND PUT ON WEIGHT
HE MOVED IN WITH UNCLE AND AUNT
FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS COUSIN EMMY, THEY WERE ENGAGED FOR 6 YEARS, DURING THAT TIME SHE FAILED PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, LIVED IN SANITARIUM MUCH OF THE TIME

1884 HIS STINT IN THE SERVICE WAS OVER
HE ATTENDED THE UNIVERSITY OF BERLIN
DURING THIS TIME HE HAD AN INCREASING DISLIKE FOR HIS FATHER,
HE WAS ENORMOUSLY PRODUCTIVE INTELLECTUALLY,
COMPLETED PH.D AND POST DOC. THESIS

1893 MARRIED COUSIN MARIANNE, INTELLECTUAL AND MORAL COMPANIONSHIP - NEVER CONSUMMATED (LATE 40'S BEFORE HE HAD SEX, AN EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR)
APPOINTED CHAIR OF ECONOMICS AT FRERBURG

1896 PROF. OF ECONOMICS AT HEIDELBERG, BECOMING THE CENTRAL FIGURE
1897 PARENTS CAME TO VISIT, FIGHT WITH FATHER, TOSSED HIS FATHER OUT, FATHER DIED A MONTH LATER, MAX SUFFERED BREAKDOWN, LASTING 5 YEARS
COULD NOT WORK, NOT EVEN READ, HE RESIGNED HIS CHAIR
RECOVERS AROUND 1903, BY 1904 MAX LECTURES IN U.S. AT ST. LOUIS AND STAYED IN U.S. FOR 3 MONTHS LECTURING ON THE EFFECTS OF PROTESTANTISM ON CAPITALISM

1918-1920 VERY ACTIVE POLITICALLY
HE WAS PRO-WAR, DISLIKED USE OF SUBS. BY GERMANY (WOULD BRING U.S. INTO WAR

WROTE ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
DIED OF PNEUMONIA JUNE 14, 1920

METHODOLOGY

 I. FOUR ASPECTS OF WEBER'S METHODOLOGY

  1. DISTINCTION BETWEEN VALUE JUDGMENTS AND EMPIRICAL OBJECTIVE CAUSAL ANALYSIS

    HUMAN SUBJECTS HAVE VALUES THAT IMPINGE ON WHAT THEY CHOOSE TO STUDY; WE ONLY USE SUBJECTIVE CATEGORIES TO IDENTIFY THE WORLD, THEREFORE, RESEARCHING IT WOULD NOT BE ANY DIFFERENT

    ONCE A TOPIC HAS BEEN DEFINED, IT CAN BE STUDIED OBJECTIVELY, AND REPLICATED
  2. USE OF IDEAL TYPES
    VARIABLES OR CONCEPTS THAT:
    1. ALWAYS OCCUR TOGETHER
    2. ARE CARRIED TO THEIR LOGICAL EXTREME
    3. FIT TOGETHER ALMOST PERFECTLY; FUNCTIONALLY INTERRELATED
    4. EXAMPLE: PRIMARY GROUP - SMALLNESS OF SIZE; FACE-TO-FACE CONTACT; INTIMACY; SECONDARY GROUP - LARGE; FORMAL LINES OF COMMUNICATION; IMPERSONAL; ETC.
    5. MAY NOT EXIST IN REALITY; THESE ARE PURE FORMS; THESE ARE MENTAL IDEAS THAT TRY TO CAPTURE THE "THING IN ITSELF"

  3. EX-POST-FACTO CONTROLLED EXPERIMENT
    HISTORY IS A CONTINUAL PROCESS OF PARTICULAR EVENTS

    IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THIS; WE CAN FIND CAUSES TO THOSE EVENTS AND COME TO GENERAL PATTERNS OF DEVELOPMENT, EVEN IF LAWS OF DEVELOPMENT DO NOT EXIST

  4. VERSTEHEN
    SYMPATHETICALLY UNDERSTAND THE CAUSAL EXPLANATION OF CERTAIN HAPPENINGS
    WE CAN KNOW WHAT HAPPENS AND WHY
    SUBJECTIVE MEANINGFULNESS
    A. MEANING OF THE ACT
    B. MEANING OF THE MOTIVES OF THE ACTOR


ECONOMICS, RELIGION, AND IDEALISM

USE OF IDEAL TYPES

A. OBSERVATION: PEOPLE IN HIGHER SOCIOECONOMIC POSITIONS ARE OVERWHELMINGLY PROTESTANT

B. RELATIONSHIP POINTED OUT BY MANY - HIS TASK WAS TO EXPLAIN IT
(LOOK AT PARTICULARS AND PATTERNS, BUT NOT LAWS)

C. SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM

  1. WORK VALUED AS AN END IN ITSELF
  2. ACQUISITIVENESS, TRADE, PROFIT - EVIDENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL SUCCESS & PERSONAL VIRTUE
  3. METHODICALLY ORGANIZED LIFE GOVERNED BY REASON
  4. DEFERRED GRATIFICATION


D. GREATEST BARRIER - TRADITIONAL VALUES (TRADITIONAL ACTION ORIENTATION)

E. BREAKDOWN OF TRADITION

FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT OF CAPITALISM
  1. PROCESS OF INDUSTRIALIZATION
  2. RISE OF FREE LABOR FORCE (FREE?)
  3. RATIONAL ACCOUNTING METHODS
  4. FREE MARKET
  5. LEGITIMATION OF CALCULABLE LAW
  6. COMMERCIALIZATION OF ECONOMIC LIFE
  7. SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM MOST IMPORTANT!
F. TRADITION PRIMARILY DESTROYED BY PURITANISM (INTENDED OR NOT)

II. CALVINISM

A. PREDESTINATION

B. UNCERTAINTY OF SALVATION -- LONELINESS & ISOLATION

C. LOOK FOR SIGNS INDICATING THE ELECT

1. FAITH - DON'T DOUBT
2. INTENSE WORLDLY ACTIVITY (CALLING)

D. LEAD METHODICAL LIVES
GET RID OF IRRATIONAL - MYTH - TEMPTATIONS ETC.

III. EVERYDAY PRACTICE - GUIDE LINE

A. GOD DEMANDS RATIONAL LABOR - HARD WORK; RESULT:

1. RATIONALE FOR DIVISION OF LABOR
2. INEQUALITY IN REWARDS

B. ENJOYMENT WITHOUT RELIGIOUS PURPOSE IS A SIN

C. DUTY TO USE POSSESSIONS FOR SOCIALLY BENEFICIAL PURPOSES

IV. INEVITABLE RESULT

CAPITALISM

ACTION THEORY

 I. FOUR TYPE OF ACTION ORIENTATION

  1. INSTRUMENTAL
    MEANS ENDS CALCULATION
    ACTOR PERCEIVES GOALS CLEARLY AND COMBINES MEANS TO ATTAIN IT

  2. VALUE RATIONALITY
    MEANS ARE THE ENDS
    ACTOR WILLING TO ACCEPT CONSEQUENCES TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO VALUE

  3. AFFECTIVE ACTION
    ACTOR ACTS BASED ON EMOTIONS NOT THOUGHT OUT ACTION

  4. TRADITIONAL ACTION

ACTION DICTATED BY CUSTOMS, BELIEFS BECOME HABITUAL

ALL RATIONALITY RUNS THE CHANCE OF BECOMING HABITUAL

USING TYPES OF ACTION HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE MEANINGS THE ACTOR GIVES A SITUATION

WEBER WAS CONCERNED WITH SOCIAL ACTION. ACTION IS DEFINED AS HUMAN BEHAVIOR TO WHICH THE ACTOR ATTACHES MEANING

WEBER'S BELIEF IN IDEALISM (POPULAR IN GERMAN PHILOSOPHY AND ECONOMICS) WE ONLY KNOW THINGS - CONSTRUCT THINGS - THROUGH THE MEANINGS WE APPLY TO THEM; THIS MAKES HUMAN ACTORS CENTRAL TO ALL ASPECTS OF SOCIAL ANALYSIS


BUREAUCRACY

AN INEVITABLE OUTGROWTH OF INCREASING RATIONALIZATION

    • HIERARCHY OF AUTHORITY (RATIONAL LEGAL DOMINATION)

    • IMPERSONALITY (DISINTERESTED RELATIONSHIPS, THINK OF PARSON'S PATTERN VARIABLES)

    • WRITTEN RULES OF CONDUCT (CREATES A SENSE OF EQUALITY, WE ARE ALL HELD TO THE SAME STANDARD)

    • PROMOTION IN THE ORGANIZATION IS BASED ON ACHIEVEMENT (NOT ASCRIBED CHARACTERISTICS OR BRIBES)

    • SPECIALIZED DIVISION OF LABOR (WHO HAS CONTROL OF THE BIG PICTURE? SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE CAN BE A SOURCE OF POWER)

    • INCREASING EFFICIENCY (INSTRUMENTAL RATIONAL ACTION ORIENTATIONS RUN AMUCK)


  2. BAD SIDE EFFECTS

  3. A. CAN BE TAKEN OVER BY UNDESIRABLE SMALL GROUP

  4. B. ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN LACK OF INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM
    (FORMAL RATIONALITY)

  5. FREE ENTERPRISE SETS UP SERIES OF ALTERNATIVE BUREAUCRACIES FROM WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS FREE TO CHOOSE:

    IRON CAGE (Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism page
    A. MODERN FREEDOM IS CHOOSING BETWEEN ALTERNATIVE BUREAUCRACIES WITH NO ONE PROVIDED THE FINAL SAY IN THE WORTH OF AN INDIVIDUAL; IF YOU FARE POORLY IN ONE, SHIFT TO ANOTHER

    B. A FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR A PLURALITY OF CHOICES PROVIDING AT LEAST SOME SORT OF FREEDOM FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
  6. SOCIALISM IS A FURTHER ADVANCED STAGE OF RATIONALIZATION, RESTRICTS THE CHOICES OF THE INDIVIDUAL WITH FEWER ALTERNATIVES


BUREAUCRACIES ARE FORMALLY RATIONAL; FORMAL RATIONALITY CREATES PROBLEMS HOWEVER

  1. ONCE CREATED THE CONTROL OF BUREAUCRACIES IS NEAR UNBREAKABLE
  2. IT LEVELS ALL PEOPLE AND PROBLEMS - ONE SET OF RULES AND PROCEDURES; THE CONCRETENESS OF INDIVIDUALS AND SITUATIONS ARE HARD TO DEAL WITH
  3. POWER WITHIN POSITIONS, TECHNO KNOWLEDGE LEAVES OTHERS OUT; "BUREAUCRATS" OR "TECHNOCRATS"
  4. POLITICS ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY TO BECOME BUREAUCRATIC
  5. THEY ESTABLISH OWN RULES AND LAWS (THE IRON CAGE) TO WHICH WE ARE ALL SUBJECTED
  6. SUPPRESSES INDIVIDUAL AUTONOMY
  7. BECOMES MORE DOMINATING OVERTIME UNLESS COUNTERVAILING FORCES DEVELOP

POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY

I. POWER IS THE ABILITY TO REALIZE ONE'S WILL OVER THE RESISTANCE OF ANOTHER

II. AUTHORITY IS THE LEGITIMATE USE OF POWER

THREE TYPES OF DOMINATION

  1. RATIONAL-LEGAL DOMINATION (AUTHORITY)
    BASED ON A BELIEF IN THE LEGALITY OF ORDINANCES & LEGALITY OF THE TITLES OF THOSE WHO EXERCISE DOMINATION
  2. TRADITIONAL DOMINATION
    BASED ON BELIEF IN SACRED QUALITY OF LONG-STANDING TRADITIONS & LEGITIMACY OF THOSE WHO EXERCISE AUTHORITY
  3. CHARISMATIC DOMINATION
    BASED ON AN EXTRAORDINARY DEVOTION TO THE SACRED QUALITY OR HEROIC STRENGTH OR EXEMPLARY CHARACTER OF A PERSON & THE ORDER REVEALED OR CREATED BY THAT PERSON
ROUTINIZATION OF CHARISMA

WHAT HAPPENS UPON THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE PERSON
1) LOOK FOR SOMEONE WITH CHARISMA
2) BECOME MORE RATIONAL

THE STATE FROM WEBER'S POINT OF VIEW HAS MONOPOLY OVER THE LEGITIMATE USE OF FORCE; (THIS COMES TO DEFINE THE MODERN RATIONAL STATE)

STRATIFICATION

DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS

  1. CLASS, ECONOMIC DIMENSION
    THE WAYS IN WHICH GOODS ARE DISTRIBUTED;
    CONTINUUM OF BUYING POWER AS INDIVIDUALS NOT GROUPS;
    A HIERARCHY OF INDIVIDUALS IN TERMS OF BUYING POWER;
  2. SOCIAL STATUS or SOCIAL HONOR (IDEAS AND BELIEFS) PRESTIGE
    STATUS DIMENSION PLACES PEOPLE INTO GROUPS, RATHER THAN CONTINUUM OF INDIVIDUALS;
    GROUPS ARE CHARACTERIZED BY A PARTICULAR STYLE OF LIFE
  3. PARTY, POLITICAL OR POWER DIMENSION


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Copyright: © 2001, John Hamlin
Last Modified: Wednesday, 29-Nov.-2006
Page Coordinator: John Hamlin