CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
MAX WEBER (1864-1920)
INTRODUCTION AND
BACKGROUND
Max" Weber (German: [ˈmaks ˈveːbɐ]; 21 April 1864 – 14 June 1920) was a German
sociologist, philosopher, jurist, political economist
His father, Max Weber Sr, was a politically active lawyer with a penchant for “earthly
pleasures,” while his mother, Helene Fallenstein Weber, preferred a more ascetic
lifestyle.
The conflicts this created in their marriage acutely influenced Max. classic literature on
his own.
Weber is often cited, with Émile Durkheim and Karl Marx, as among the three founders
of sociology.
WEBER seen as one of the founders of modern sociology.
INTRODUCTION AND
BACKGROUND
Studied and practised law, served in the military and completed a PhD
on the history of trading companies during the middle ages lLectured at
several universities in Germany.
Traveled extensively in Europe. Visited USA in 1904 and was mesmerised
by the good and bad of capitalism.
On returning to Germany completed his writing on The Protestant Ethic
and the Spirit of Capitalism known to be his best of work
Served in the 1st WW in 1914 as the captain of the reserve corps. - died
at the age of 56 in 1920.
MAJOR WRITINGS
1904 – 1905 The Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism
1909 – 1920 Economy and Society
1915 The Social Psychology of the World Religions
1919 Politics as a Vocation
1903 -1917 The Methodology of the Social Sciences
CENTRALITY OF WEBER’S
SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
Weber’s work focuses broadly on the following:
The structure of capitalism and inequality (similar to Marx)
Cultural and non-economic motivations underlying social action
(human behavior).
The substantive content of religion i.e. the subjective meanings and
worldviews that particular religions give rise to.
His ideas profoundly influenced social theory and social research
Weber was a key proponent of methodological antipositivism, arguing
for the study of social action through interpretive - based on
understanding the purpose and meaning that individuals attach to their
own actions.
He was also interested in the new social order and in social change
He wanted to analyse and explain how the industrial revolution affected
social action
SOCIOLOGY – UNDERSTANDING
SOCIAL ACTION
Weber defines sociology as “a science concerning itself with the
interpretive understanding of social action.
Argued that society does not according to rules
Instead saw society as being made up of people who interact with each
other in different situations
It examines “subjectively meaningful action” - action is subjective
insofar as the meaning attached by the acting individual.
Action is “social” since its subjective meaning takes into account the
behavior of others
CONT…….
An interpretive understanding of social action for Weber can be
gained by immersing oneself in the world and worldviews of those
we are understanding in a non-judgmental way.
However, one does not have to be an alcoholic to understand an
alcoholic way of life.
One needs to commit research at understanding the meaning of
social action.
Hence, we conduct qualitative research to make an understanding
of different forms of social action.
WHAT IS SOCIAL ACTION?
action that people take in response to others – emphasis on the
forces that motivate people to act
People act differently in different social settings and continuously
adjust our behaviour, including our body language as they
interact
Eg. A woman’s interaction with her husband are different from
those with her children - and different when she is teaching/
speaking to a colleague/ presenting at a conference
Society is socially constructed through human interpretation
CONT…..
That is, meanings are not inherent but are created and modified
through interaction with others
Sociologists take into account varying motivations that underlie
social action inorder to reach understanding – Verstehen.
Sociologists seek to understand
why individuals, institutions and societies behave in certain ways?
Why do they attach meaning to some goals and not others?
Why do certain behavioral patterns and consequences emerge in
a given socio-historical context?
