By: Marissa Madrigal, Beau Hindman, Amy Wrenn

Born in Thuringia, Germany (1864) Was the eldest of eight children Weber was a sickly child who suffered from

physical and mental torment His father was a prominent liberal politician

and civil servant, His mother was a moderate Calvinist and very

religious. Parents were refugees from Catholic

persecution Parents had marriage problems because of

different beliefs. Both Weber and his brother Alfred became a

sociologists and economists.

Passionate reader •At 14 he was writing essays about Homer, Virgil, Cicero, and Livy.•At 18 he entered University of Heidelberg

•He was shy and thin, his shyness quickly disappeared when he enter a dueling fraternity.•With this he started to drink large quantities of beer

He was engage for six years to his cousin Emmy but ended it because of mentally and physical problems

Age eighteen he entered University of Heidelberg

•He was shy and thin, his shyness quickly disappeared when he enter a dueling fraternity.•With this he started to drink large quantities of beer

From time to time he would served with the German army in Strasbourg.In 1884, he returned and study at the University of Berlin.He also attended University of Goettingen but was once again interrupted for military training.

In 1893 he married his distant cousin Marianne◦ She was later a feminist◦ She collected and published Weber's journal articles as books

after his death After his father’s death, Weber became prone to nervousness

and insomnia. He developed psychological problems and was institutionalized in a sanitarium.

◦ Took over five years to recover He was encourage to write

◦ In 1903 he became co-editor of the Archiv fuer Sozialwissenschaft

◦ This became the leading Social science journal in Germany.

He resumed his teaching duties during WWI In 1904, he visited the U.S, which helped him with his recovery

and was fascinated by America.◦ He delivered an essay about the social structure of Germany

while in St. Louis for the Congress of Arts and Sciences. Between 1892 and 1905 he wrote a series of essays and speeches

which addressed the failure of German idealism. These articles dealt with the social and economic conditions in

eastern Germany. His works were rarely published during his lifetime. His works slowly were translated in English. In 1905, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,” was

published.

War broke out◦ Weber was the first German to opposed it openly ◦ Criticized the ineffectiveness of German leadership

The last few years of his life, he became very political. ◦ Wrote many political newspaper articles. ◦ He was founding member of and active campaigner

for the newly organized Deutsche Demokratische Partei.

◦ There was a proposal to make him a candidate for presidency of the Republic.

Max Weber died of pneumonia in June 14, 1920

Weber’s work◦ The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

(1905)◦ The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism

(1916).◦ The Religion of India: the Sociology of Hinduism

and Buddhism (1916-17) ◦ The Sociology of Religion (1921)

Adolescent: Greek and Latin classics◦ Homer, Virgil, Cicero & Livy

Influences on his work:◦ Comte◦ Marx◦ Nietzsche◦ Kant◦ Neo-Kantians

August Comte (1798-1857)◦ Believed in the “Hierarchy of Science”:

Each science is dependent upon the other This hierarchy ranges from the simplest to more complex

forms of science The sciences above rely on the sciences below, therefore he

believed that the sciences on top, such as Sociology were more abstract and difficult than those on the bottom.

• Weber disagreed with Comte’s notion of hierarchy. He believed there could be as many sciences as needed. “A method must advance knowledge rather than be faithful to an imaginary ideal of cognition”.

Weber’s methodological approach, however, was influenced by the ideas from Comte

Nietzsche & Marx◦ Influence evident in Weber’s sociology of ideas and

interests: Weber:

material & ideal interests dictate and individual’s conduct World Images are a product of created ideas that an individual

has Social action is governed by the dynamic of individual interests

◦ Weber believed ideas had a greater significance than Nietzsche & Marx thought

◦ Marx’s belief that ideas were expressions of public interest and that they served as weapons in the struggle between classes and political parties also heavily influenced Weber.

Marx◦ Weber and Marx agreed that modern methods of the

organization increased efficiency and effectiveness of production, but it “threatens to dehumanize its creators”.

◦ Economic Order: Weber did not agree with Marx Marx maintained that economic order was determined by

class struggle and owners of production But Weber believed the character of political power and

the effect of the military also played important roles in determining power relationships. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism was a reaction

to Marx’s metaphysical view that all events of civilization are reducible to a single cause, namely the economic order.

Marx◦ Weber’s theories regarding stratification and

economic behavior are rooted from the Marxian economics of society.

◦ Weber saw democratic ideals come from the Marxian revolutionary ideology.

◦ So much of Weber’s work was influenced by Marx.

Nietzsche:◦ Analysis of Psychological Mechanisms: Ideas

become rationalizations to use as private aspirations or power and mastery. Both Nietzsche and Weber worried about the future

and the 20th century. They thought it would be full of tyranny and horror.

Apparently they possessed good reason to harbor such concerns.

Much of Weber’s work was influenced by Nietzsche.

Kant◦ Happiness and the good must be different◦ One does the good out of a sense of obligation or duty◦ Morality must be linked to the universal categorical

imperatives◦ These categorical imperatives based in pure reason

and stand outside the human condition◦ Morality serves as a “bridge” between pure reason and

the ontological state of humanity◦ Humans must be totally free to express an authentic

sense of duty.◦ But if knowing the good requires doing the good, can

humans actually be fully free?

Intellectual Influences The Neo-Kantians

◦ A broad cultural movement focused on an intellectual critique of the ideas of Positivism, Naturalism & materialism which followed the aftermath of the decline of German Idealism. Autonomy of the Individual Became critical of social domination (via

governments)◦ Weber strongly identified with the Neo-Kantian

movement because of his German citizenship Proposed a unified Germany where all people worked

toward the German national mission. He demonstrated the methodical ethic of work

(Rational Capitalism)

Weber is considered one of the founders of modern sociology◦ His work is considered to be complex, varied and

open to subjective interpretation

Verstehen (undestanding) Recognized advantage sociologists had over natural

scientists Natural scientists cannot gain insight to the

behavioral patterns of the phenomena they study (example: cannot empathize with the function of an electron or chemical compound)

Methods should be derived from studying the context of the phenomenon but also empathizing with the individuals involved, so in this sense, a mode of interpretation.

Critiqued as being little more than intuition; an overly soft and subjective method

Weber insisted his approach was a rational procedure involving systematic research

Social Action as Four Ideal Types Weber defined sociology as the study of

social action between or among individuals (action defined as meaningful, purposive behavior) ◦ This definition contrasts Durkheim's impression of

society as "structures that function apart from human purpose and will"

◦ Individual action treated as the basic unit of analysis

◦ Reflects, in part, the notion of transactionalism.

Ideal Types of Social Action Zweckrational

◦ Rational means to attain a particular rational end chosen◦ example: person pursues college degree to (hopefully)

obtain a job that grants financial security

Wertrational◦ Rational means to attain an irrational end◦ example: person follows teachings of a prophet, or lives a

certain way in hopes of receiving "eternal salvation"

Ideal Types of Social Action Affekual

◦ Social action guided by emotions◦ example: person attends a particular college because

their significant other is enrolled there

Traditional ◦ Social actions guided by customs and habits ◦ example: standing at a football game for the singing of

the “Star Spangled Banner”

Assumption Based on Research

Weber maintained that human social action in general has become more formal and rational by deliberately matching means to ends.

Claimed that only in modern societies does formal rationality exist in all spheres of social action.

Use of the Ideal Types as a Method A sort of measuring rod, devised of the most

"logically consistent" features of a phenomenon

Example: Ideal Capitalism has four basic and logical components:

private ownership pursuit of profit competition laissez-faire economics

Weber thought the world was becoming increasingly rational (rather optimistic)

Supported his assertion via cross-cultural analysis

Weber considered modern capitalism to be the root motivation of rationalization

the motivation for maximum profits required rational reasoning to develop efficiency

Four Basic Types of Rationality Practical Rationality

◦ Characterized by acceptance of given realities or constraints in society and simply calculating the best way to deal with them

◦ Patriarchy

Theoretical Rationality◦ An attempt to master reality, characterized by

transcending daily realities in pursuit of enlightenment

◦ Searching for the Truth of the Universe

Four Basic Types of Rationality Substantive rationality

◦ Courses of action are determined by a value system in which behaviors are limited

◦ “Women and children first!” (assumes women and children represent the future and that men are more expendable)

Formal rationality

◦ Courses of action are determined by universally applied rules, laws, and regulations

◦ “Do not kill”

Weber saw formal rationality as leading to the "Iron Cage“: rational and established rules designed to prevent individuals from deviating.

Weber defined bureaucracies as "goal-oriented organizations designed according to rational principles in order to efficiently attain the stated goals"

Weber saw the formation and execution of bureaucracies as necessary to complex societies

The ideal bureaucracy possesses these characteristics: ◦ Official business is conducted on a continuous basis ◦ Business is conducted in accordance with stipulated rules ◦ Every official's responsibility and authority are part of a

hierarchy of authority ◦ Officials do not own the resources necessary for them to

perform their assigned functions, but they are accountable for the use of those resources

◦ Offices cannot be appropriated by their incumbents in the sense of property that can be inherited or sold

◦ Official business is conducted on the basis of written documents

Weber thought it was important to go beyond simply recording events

Needed to explain the reasons behind the events

Weber decided that causal certainty was impossible

Therefore, the best way to measure causality was by probability

Human actions cannot be explained in terms of absolute "laws" such as cause and effect.

To grasp the meaning of human actions would require a different method

The social scientist's own moral, political and aesthetic values will enter into their conclusions in a way that those people in the natural sciences would find odious.

According to Weber, values play a crucial role before, during, and after social research

He strongly thought teachers must keep their personal values out of the classroom

However, he thought that scholars have a perfect right to include their values ◦ "Students should be presented with the facts; attendees

at a conference, or some other public gathering, expect to hear opinionated comments supported by facts"

Weber believed that quantitative, empirical studies cannot tell people what they "ought" to do.

Definitions:◦ Power: the ability to impose one's will onto

another, even when the other objects. ◦ Authority: legitimate power, power that is

exercised with the consent of the ruled

Rational-legal authority◦ Established via impersonal, rational rules that have been legally

enacted (possibly by contract) ◦ Example:  The United States Government

Traditional authority◦ Power is traditionally transmitted from generation to

generation, by inheritance or appointment◦ Example: Monarchies

Charismatic authority◦ Based on the appeal of figures who claim to possess

extraordinary virtuosity ◦ Naturally unstable because power is with the individual

Note the Leader-Follower dynamic

Weber's best-known work Traced the impact of Protestantism

(primarily Calvinism) ◦ Believed to be one of the most powerful forces

behind capitalism, though not exclusively Profit as a moral crusade - legitimated inequality Found nations with comparable technology and

infrastructure lacked the cultural (religious) encouragement

The Protestant Ethic Weber’s historical research suggested that

Catholicism regulated the notion of divine vocation to clerics.

On the other hand, Luther “secularized” the notion of vocation, suggesting God took interest in the work of all persons and would be ultimately rewarded—or punished—for such labors.

But at the hands of John Calvin, this “work ethic” becomes more complex.

The Protestant Ethic Calvin advocated a doctrine of Predestination

◦ Before creation, God already knew who would accept the gift of salvation and who would not.

◦ Those persons who were predestined to accept the gift of salvation were known as the Elect. All others would be damned.

◦ Sadly, humans could not know the mind of God in such matters.

◦ Therefore, it would be better to live the life of true faith (frugal, pious, suffer in silence, work hard)

◦ Wealth might serve as an indicator of one’s devotion to Christ if one saved it rather than spent it.

◦ “Inter-worldly asceticism”

The Protestant Ethic Weber thought that the Protestant Ethic

promoted rationalization of Western society. He also maintained that greed would serve

as a poor motivator for capitalism, since the focus would be both on higher profit and higher levels of spending (let everybody know you are wealthy).

But does such an ethic really exist today?

Sociology of Religion Book length chapter in Economy and

Society Looked at four different aspects of religion

◦ Religious Leaders◦ Social Classes and Groups◦ Belief and Behavior◦ Religion and other spheres of life

Three types of Religious Leaders Magician

◦ Practical problem solvers who often worked with spirits

◦ Endowed with charisma◦ Healer and miracle workers◦ Appears in even complex religious systems

Priest◦ Permanent paid post◦ Charisma associated with the post, not the person◦ Professional ritualists interested in the status quo

Three Types of Religious Leaders Prophet

◦ Highly charismatic figure◦ Commanded by a super-ordinate other to declare

a life-changing direction ◦ Often considered revolutionary◦ Often mendicant in nature◦ Two types:

Exemplary Prophet (teach by example) Ethical Prophet (teach a universal set of ethics)

◦ Followers must quickly “routinize” the charisma of the prophet into a “congregation”

Social Classes and Groups

Unlike Marx, Weber assumed groups were formed on grounds other than economic separation and exploitation:◦ Location◦ Vocation◦ Education◦ Honor

Religion would need to reflect aspects of all the social groups

This idea would explain the diversity of religions

Social Classes and Groups For instance, a poor, uneducated dirt farmer

would require a religion that provided rain for the crops and a “common sense” approach to understanding the world.

A warrior for a sultan would need a religion that would provide a motivation and reward for engaging in battle, perhaps seeing secular war as a reflection of a larger, spiritual one.

Social Classes and Groups With the exception of Confucianism,

according to Weber, most prophetic religions have morphed into “salvation religions”◦ The masses demand a savior figure while the

educated may focus on more esoteric expressions of salvation, such as nirvana.

◦ The “Savior Cult” of the masses offer its followers the hope of a optimistic future, full of rewards

◦ The intellectual will look for a sense of enhanced personal meaning (perhaps considered another type of reward)

Belief and Behavior All communities need to address the

question of theodicy:◦ If there is a just and good god/dess interested in

human affairs, how can evil exist in the world Weber introduces three ideal types as

responses◦ This worldly future justice or outside this world

future justice◦ Humans can never know the answer to this

question◦ The opposition of two ultimate realities (good vs.

bad, sentience vs. non-sentience, physical vs. spiritual)

Belief and Behavior The last two ideal types assumes humans

cannot do anything to resolve the problem of theodicy; the solution must come from a transcendental effort

The first one assumes humans can bring about their own salvation◦ Become a “spiritual athlete” who practice

“virtuoso sanctification” through a highly ritualized life of asceticism

◦ Become a mystic who rejects the world and hence transcends it

Belief and Behavior Weber notes that many religions

understand that humans cannot do anything to initiate or aid in their salvation (the anti-doctrine known as Pelagianism among Orthodox Christians)◦ Available as “institutional grace”◦ A response to a heartfelt, personal faith◦ Predestination

Religion and Other Spheres So how does religion intersect with other

aspects of society?◦ Economics◦ Politics ◦ Sexuality◦ The arts

Many religions understand the need to practices the giving of alms

Calvin, however, maintained those persons who were capable of work and did not do so should receive nothing.

Religion and Other Spheres Concerning the other spheres, Weber

maintained the need for religions to seek compromises◦ Recognize the independence of the state◦ Recognize the erotic but seek to contain it◦ Recognize the value of expression, but only when

it focuses upon the sacred

Weber's Quasi-Experimental Design in the Study of Religion

Group

Step 1Find "matched" societies in terms of their minimal

conditions.

Step 2Do historical research on

their properties before stimulus introduced.

Step 3Examine the

impact of the key stimulus, religious

beliefs.

Step 4Use historical evidence to assess the impact of the stimulus.

Step 5View differences

between Europe, China, and India as caused by

religious beliefs.

QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL GROUP

WesternEurope

Descriptions of Europe (using historical ideal types)

Experiences stimulus with emergence of Protestantism

Moderncapitalism

Western Europe is changed.

QUASI-CONTROL GROUP

China Descriptions of China (using historical ideal types)

Experiences no stimulus

No capitalism

China is much the same as before.

QUASI-CONTROL GROUP

India Descriptions of India (using historical ideal types)

Experiences no stimulus

Nocapitalism

India is much the same as before.