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The Sociology of Max Weber

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

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The Sociology of Max Weber

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  1. 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

  2. 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)

  3. Historical Context • Weber’s writing should be understood in light of two historical contexts: • The Industrial Revolution • The Rise of Positivism

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Marx Weber Culture/Ideology/ Beliefs/ Values Culture/Ideology/ Beliefs/ Values Economics/ Material Conditions Economics/ Material Conditions

  7. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

  8. The Spirit of Capitalism

  9. Predestination

  10. Asceticism No fun ever! Just praying!!

  11. The Protestant Ethic • Work hard and accumulate wealth as a sign of your salvation.

  12. 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 (over time) Spirit of Capitalism Accumulate wealth for its own sake

  13. Weber’s Sociology Developed by James Coleman (The Coleman Boat) Macro Level Structure Capitalist Economy Culture Protestant Religion Individual Level Beliefs and Values Individual Economic Behaviors Micro Level

  14. 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?

  15. On Bureaucracy from Economy and Society

  16. Business Organization • Within each department, there are specific roles and tasks that need to be accomplished.

  17. Weber’s Bureaucracy

  18. 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…

  19. The Iron Cage

  20. “Class, Status, Party” from Economy and Society

  21. Social Stratification

  22. Stratification According to Marx Bourgeoisie (Own the Means of Production) Proletariat (Do Not Own the Means of Production) Means of Production (Position in the Class Structure Determined in Relation) (One Dividing Line)

  23. 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 B Person B Person B Person A Person A

  24. Weber’s Definition of Class Class = People with Same Class Situation Relation to the Means of Production Relation to the Capital Market Relation to the Labor Market Relation to the Commodities Market Class Situation

  25. “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?

  26. Weber’s Sociology Developed by James Coleman (The Coleman Boat) Macro Level Structure Capitalist Economy Culture Protestant Religion Individual Level Beliefs and Values Individual Economic Behaviors Micro Level

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