The Sociology of Max Weber
Agenda
Objective:
1. To understand the
sociology of Max
Weber and its
contributions to the
field of sociology.
Schedule:
1. Discussion of
Weber’s Theory
Homework
1. Read “Weber Packet”
& keep track of
evidence of your
work.
2. Critical Thinking
Assignments: Due
Wed 10/17
3. Marx, Weber,
Durkheim Paper: Due
Wed 10/24
Max Weber
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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)
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Historical Context
• Weber’s writing should
be understood in light
of two historical
contexts:
– The Industrial
Revolution
– The Rise of
Positivism
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Context 1: The Industrial Revolution
and The Irrationality of Rationality
• Like Marx, Weber was
troubled by
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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.
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The Protestant Ethic and the
Spirit of Capitalism
The Spirit
of
Capitalism
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Marx
Culture/Ideology/
Beliefs/ Values
Economics/
Material Conditions
Weber
Culture/Ideology/
Beliefs/ Values
Economics/
Material Conditions
Predestination
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Asceticism
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No fun
ever!
Just
praying!!
The Protestant Ethic
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• 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
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Leads to denial of
pleasure and
emphasis on labor
Protestant Ethic
Work hard and
accumulate
wealth as a sign
of salvation
(over time)
Spirit of Capitalism
Accumulate wealth for its own sake
Weber’s Sociology
Developed by James Coleman (The Coleman Boat)
Macro Level
Culture
Structure
Protestant
Religion
Capitalist
Economy
Individual
Level Beliefs
and Values
Micro Level
Individual
Economic
Behaviors
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
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• Within each
department,
there are
specific roles
and tasks that
need to be
accomplished.
Weber’s Bureaucracy
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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.
Hierarchy of
Authority
Impersonality
Written Rules of
Conduct
Promotion
Based on
Achievement
Specialized
Division of
Labor
Focus on
Efficiency
• 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…
The Iron Cage
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“Class, Status, Party” from
Economy and Society
Social Stratification
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Stratification According to Marx
Bourgeoisie
(Own the Means of Production)
Means of Production
(Position in the Class Structure Determined in Relation)
(One Dividing Line)
Proletariat
(Do Not Own the Means of Production)
Stratification According to Weber
Person A
Person B
Person B
Person B
Class
Status
Party
(Economic Stratification)
(Dividing Line One)
(Social Stratification)
(Dividing Line Two)
(Political Stratification)
(Dividing Line 3)
Person A
Person A
Weber’s Definition of Class
Relation to the
Means of
Production
Relation to the
Capital Market
Relation to the
Labor Market
Relation to the
Commodities
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?
Weber’s Sociology
Developed by James Coleman (The Coleman Boat)
Macro Level
Culture
Structure
Protestant
Religion
Capitalist
Economy
Individual
Level Beliefs
and Values
Individual
Economic
Behaviors
Micro Level