Max Weber
(1864-1920)

Max Weber (pronounced Vay-bur) has profoundly influenced the development of modern sociology. His contributions revolve around the concepts of "rationality," "bureacracy," and "protestant ethic and capitalism".

The Protestant Ethic.

Weber's concern with the meaning that people give to their actions allowed him to understand the drift of historical change. He believed that rational action within a system of rational-legal authority is at the heart of modern society. His sociology was first and foremost an attempt to explore and explain this shift from traditional to rational action (Aron, 1970). What was it about the West, he asks, that is causing this shift? In an effort to understand these causes, Weber examined the religious and economic systems of many civilizations.

Weber came to believe that the rationalization of action can only be realized when traditional ways of life are abandoned (Coser, 1977). Because of its erosion, modern people may have a difficult time knowing the hold of tradition over pre-industrial peoples. Weber's task was to uncover the forces in the West that caused people to abandon their traditional religious value orientation and encouraged them to develop a desire for acquiring goods and wealth (Aron, 1970; Coser, 1977).

After careful study, Weber came to the hypothesis that the protestant ethic broke the hold of tradition while it encouraged men to apply themselves rationally to their work. Calvin's followers believed that one could not do good works or perform acts of faith to assure his/her place in heaven. One was either among the "elect" (in which case you were in) or was not. However, wealth was taken as a sign (by you and your neighbors) that you were one of the God's elect, thereby providing encouragement for people to acquire wealth. The protestant ethic therefore provided religious sanctions that fostered a spirit of rigorous discipline, encouraging men to apply themselves rationally to acquire wealth (Aron, 1970; Coser, 1977). (From: http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/%7Efelwell/Theorists/Weber/Whome.htm).

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