the sociology of max weber
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The Sociology of Max Weber. Agenda Objective : 1. To understand the sociology of Max Weber and its contributions to the field of sociology. Schedule : Discussion of Weber ’ s Theory. Homework Marx, Weber, Durkheim Assignments: Due Fri 3/22. Max Weber. 1864-1920 German - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
The Sociology of Max Weber
AgendaObjective:1. To understand
the sociology of Max Weber and its contributions to the field of sociology.
Schedule: 1.Discussion of
Weber’s Theory
Homework1. Marx, Weber,
Durkheim Assignments:
Due Fri 3/22
Max Weber• 1864-1920• German• Ph.D. in Economic and Legal History• Professor of Economics at Freiburg University in
Germany• Resigned after suffering a series of nervous
breakdowns.• Became an associated editor of the Archives for
Social Science and Social Welfare and worked as a private scholar for the rest of his life.
• Was a consultant to the drafting of the Weimar Constitution and was one of the key authors of Article 48.
• Major Works– The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
(1905)– Economy and Society (1922; published
posthumously)
Historical Context• Weber’s writing
should be understood in light of two historical contexts:– The Industrial
Revolution– The Rise of
Positivism
Context 1: The Industrial Revolution and The Irrationality of
Rationality• Like Marx, Weber was troubled by industrialization and the emergence of capitalism. • He too focused much of his writing on what the effects this new economic
system would have on man and society.• Weber was particularly concerned with the
emergence of rationality and its effects on the human experience.
Context Two: Positivism and Sociology as Subjectivity
• Weber wrote during the time in which positivism was gaining prominence as the methodology of the social sciences.
• Weber opposed positivism• Weber wanted to study society through
the subjective experiences of individuals and cultures.
• Therefore, for Weber, if we want to understand the world around us, we must understand the subjective individual experience (verstehen)
• Unlike Marx, he says we cannot have a grand, objective scientific analysis of society.
Culture/Ideology/ Beliefs/ Values
Economics/
Material Conditions
Culture/Ideology/ Beliefs/ Values
Economics/
Material Conditions
Marx Weber
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
The Spirit of
Capitalism
Predestination
Asceticism
No fun ever!
Just praying!!
The Protestant Ethic
• Work hard and accumulate wealth as a sign of your salvation.
How the Protestant Ethic Leads to the Sprit of Capitalism
Predestination
Leads to Uncertainty of
Salvation
Asceticism
Leads to denial of pleasure and
emphasis on labor
Protestant Ethic
Work hard and accumulate
wealth as a sign
of salvation
Spirit of Capitalism
Accumulate wealth for its own sake
(over time)
Macro Level
Micro Level
Culture
Protestant Religion
Structure
Capitalist Economy
Individual Level Beliefs and Values
Individual Economic Behaviors
Weber’s SociologyDeveloped by James Coleman (The Coleman Boat)
Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
Discussion• We will watch an excerpt from
movie Full Metal Jacket.• As you watch think about how the
experience of the marines and bootcamp is an example of Weber’s argument.
• Before we start: Why do people go to war?
On Bureaucracy from Economy and Society
Business Organization
• Within each department, there are specific roles and tasks that need to be accomplished.
Weber’s Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy Activity• Part One
– We will watch a clip from the movie Office Space.– Identify how the workplace organization in the film epitomizes Weber’s six
characteristics of bureaucracy.
• Part Two– Think back to a job you have held, or if you have never worked, a
club/group/ association with which you have been involved.– Identify how your workplace organization epitomizes Weber’s six
characteristics of bureaucracy.• Part Three
– Discussion…
Hierarchy of Authority
Impersonality Written Rules of Conduct
Promotion Based on Achievement
Specialized Division of Labor
Focus on Efficiency
The Iron Cage
“Class, Status, Party” from Economy and Society
Social Stratification
Stratification According to Marx
Means of Production(Position in the Class Structure Determined in Relation)
(One Dividing Line)
Bourgeoisie(Own the Means of Production)
Proletariat(Do Not Own the Means of Production)
Stratification According to Weber
Class(Economic Stratification)
(Dividing Line One)
Status(Social Stratification)(Dividing Line Two)
Party(Political Stratification) (Dividing Line 3)
Person A
Person A Person A
Person BPerson B
Person B
Weber’s Definition of Class
Relation to the Labor Market
Relation to the Commodities
Market
Relation to the Means of Production
Relation to the Capital Market
Class Situation
Class = People with Same Class
Situation
“Class, Status, Party” Discussion
• We will watch an excerpt from the television series The Sopranos.
• Where do you see the complex stratification lines of class and status?
Macro Level
Micro Level
Culture
Protestant Religion
Structure
Capitalist Economy
Individual Level Beliefs and Values
Individual Economic Behaviors
Weber’s SociologyDeveloped by James Coleman (The Coleman Boat)