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)