Max Weber 2 Applying Sociological Knowledge Understanding Capitalism and Modernity

Max Weber 2

Applying Sociological Knowledge

Understanding Capitalism and Modernity

ISSUES1. Weber’s view of modern society

- The “Iron Cage”

2. Weber applies his methods

- How good are his methods?

3. Weber versus Marx

- Differences & similarities

OUTLINE1. Weber’s life

2. Weber’s view of modern society

3. Weber’s methods: recap

4. Applying methods to modern society

5. Weber & Marx

6. Weber: the rise of capitalism

7. (Weber & Marx – again)

8. The “Iron Cage”

9. Evaluation

Weber’s LifeBorn in Germany 1864 – 1920- Rapid social change / industrialisation- Development of government bureaucracy

Politics: German nationalist But anti-authoritarian

Studies: history, economics, religious studies, sociology

Against positivism / For interpretivism

Weber’s view of modern society

1) Modernity very unlike other societies

2) Capitalism (but view differs from Marx’s)- Psychology of capitalism

3) Highly “rationalised”- Ways of thinking: science, calculation- Beliefs: secularisation- Ways of organising people: bureaucracy

Weber’s Methods: Recap

Interpretivism:

Study what people think / why they act

“Verstehen” / Empathic understanding

Neo-Kantian methodology:

Reality is complex

Must simplify reality

Must build ideal types e.g. “bureaucracy”

Weber’s Methods: Recap

Sociology = study of social action4 types of action:1. Habitual (traditional)2. Affective (emotional)3. Value rational (beliefs)4. Instrumental (or goal) rational

(calculation / efficiency)

Any actual action a mixture of some or all

Weber’s Methods: RecapTypes of Authority

Authority = legitimate power

Power of rulers to get ruled

to do things

Ruled see power of rulers as legitimate

3 types of authority:

Traditional / charismatic / legal-rational

Weber’s Methods: RecapValue freedomAll studies are biased; must admit biasesDon’t pass off your biases as “the truth”

Value relevanceReality vastly complicatedResearcher must choose what to emphasise, what

to downplay or miss outResearcher’s interests shaped by personal &

cultural factors

Weber’s Methods: RecapOne-sided viewpoints

Reality complicated – multiple factors

Researcher can only look at some things

Any research is one-sided

2 problems:

Being unaware your research is one-sided

Passing off a one-sided viewpoint as “the truth”

Applying Methods to Modern Society Development of modern society: many factors

In one study: must select some factors

e.g. Protestant Ethic study: religious factors

Overall: multi-dimensional analysis

- Look at as many factors as possible

e.g. religion, economics, politics, bureaucracy

- Try to relate them all together

Applying Methods to Modern SocietyIdeal Types

Reality complex; must simplify

Ideal type: “perfect” model of a thing

Allows us to - See things more clearly- Compare model against reality

Protestant Ethic

Spirit of Capitalism

Bureaucracy

Applying Methods to Modern Society

Wants to look at as many factors as possible

BUT inevitability of value relevance – having to be selective

Weber’s focus (1) (of 3)

- Look at ways people think; their motivations for acting

Applying Methods to Modern SocietyEmphasises role of new ways of thinking in

creating a new sort of society

New ways of thinking motivate new ways of acting

New religion: Protestantism (Luther, Calvin)- New way of thinking 1: more calculating

mindset- New way of thinking 2: making money is moral

Protestant Ethic helps create new “Capitalist Spirit”- Calculating most efficient ways to make profits

Applying Methods to Modern SocietyWeber’s focus (2)Sees modern society as highly “rational”1) Dominance of instrumental rationality:

calculating most efficient ways of achieving goals

2) Ways of thinking: - scientific mindset; - capitalist search for profit

3) Social organisation: bureaucracy

Emphasises “rational” factorsDownplays “irrational” factors

Weber’s focus (3)

Western Europe & North America

- since 16th century: unique & unprecedented social changes

- most human history: slow change, tradition

a) Rise of capitalist society

- Industrialisation / new classes:

capitalists & workers

b) Secularisation

c) Democratisation

Focus (3)WHY DID THESE CHANGES HAPPEN IN THE

WEST AND NOWHERE ELSE??

Compare West to: India, China & JapanFind what is unique to the West

Answer: ways of thinking / religion

Eastern religions: emphasise tradition / not dynamic / don’t encourage social change

Western religions: Judaism, Christianity / emphasise change & social transformation

West is religiously dynamic, East static

Weber & MarxIdeal factors: religion, values, ways of

thinking, “culture” (“superstructure”)

Material factors: economy, production, division of labour (“economic base”)

Marx: material factors more important than ideal factors

Social change = material factors change first, then ideal factors follow

Changes in economic base changes in social superstructure

Marx: the rise of capitalist society

Changes in Economic Base:1) New technology: from farming to

factories2) New classes: capitalists & workers3) Capitalists take wealth & power

away from aristocracy

LEADS TOChanges in Social superstructure(i.e. changes in all other parts of societye.g. politics, law, family, media, etc.)

Weber’s criticisms of Marx1) Marx has a one-sided viewpoint- Emphasises “material” factors- Thinks this is the whole story- OVERemphasises material factors

2) UNDERemphasises “ideal” factors- Especially religion: Protestantism- Doesn’t examine new ways of thinking,

new motivations- Weber corrects this in Protestant Ethic

study

3) Marx is not multi-dimensional enough

a) Emphasises economic factorsBut reality is complex: many factors involved

b) Must also look at political and cultural factors (especially, but not only, religion)

c) Marx’s story only starts in the 16th century; must go back much further in time:

- Rational thinking in West since ancient Greeks- Bureaucracy since the ancient Romans- Medieval Catholic Church is a bureaucracy

Weber: the rise of capitalism

PROTESTANT ETHIC (PE)16th century: northern EuropeRebellion against Catholic teachingLuther and CalvinMore “pure” version of Christianity

Calvin: “damned” and “saved”Chosen at birthPsychological anxiety (“salvation anxiety”)Do “good works” – work hard

EFFECTS OF PE ON SOCIETY

Medieval economy:- subsistence economy

Attitudes: - leisure more important

than work; - work a necessary evil;- making money is

immoral

Protestant Ethic (PE):

- work hard to show you are good

- making money a sign of virtue

Over time: work hard; make money

Spirit of Capitalism (SC): - secular version of PE; - becomes automatic; no religious aspect

PE leads to SC leads to social transformation

Spirit of Capitalism1) Main aim in life: work hard, seek profits

2) Capitalism exists in many societies, including pre-modern societiese.g. piracy: make money by stealing

3) Modern capitalism (“Spirit of Capitalism”)- Never-ending search for profits- Calculate most efficient methods- Keep accurate records: book-keeping- Don’t waste profits; reinvest in business- “Time is money”

Weber & Marx: againDISAGREEMENTS:Marx: material factors (economic base)Weber: ideal factors as important (religion, Protestant

Ethic) as material factorsWeber: 1) Marx’s view TOO one-sided 2) Marx created an ideal-type (base-superstructure

model )BUT Marx forgets it’s just a model, just one way of

looking at things 3) Marx stresses class over other types of social groupe.g. gender-based, ethnic-based, status-based

Weber & Marx: againPARTIAL AGREEMENTS

Weber: Marx right to look at economic factors (appearance of new classes; new technology)

Weber: must look at BOTH material and ideal factors

Weber: Marx on the right track; but not multi-dimensional enough

Weber against Marx? Weber correcting Marx’s limitationsWeber adds to Marx

The “Iron Cage”Modern society created by rationalizationprocesses:

1) Increasing levels of instrumental rationality

Scientific mindsetDecline of religious belief(“Disenchantment of the world”)

Instrumental rationality (calculation) KILLS OFF value rationality (beliefs & values, esp. religious)

The “Iron Cage”2) Increasing bureaucratisationBureaucracy – ideal type:a) Organising people with written rulesb) Rules enforced impersonallyc) Hierarchical organisationd) Specialisation of tasks

Bureaucrats ruleSpread of bureaucracy into all spheres of lifee.g. family, private life

The “Iron Cage”3) Increasing impersonalization of social

relations:

a) Calculation, not imagination & feelings

b) Actions more and more automatic- Work hard, without knowing why- Seek money, at expense of other things

c) Division of labour:Everyone is a specialist One-sided personalities (all people, not just workers)

The “Iron Cage”SOLUTIONS:

Marx: Communism- Government controls economy- More and more bureaucracy

Weber: - try to salvage whatever individual

freedoms are left- not much chance of this

EVALUATIONPROS:1) More detailed account of rise of

modernity than Marx more sophisticated than Marx?2) Deals with more factors

than Marx: - material AND ideal- goes back further in history3) Sophisticated methods

(including admitting his own biases)

CONS:1) Too pessimistic about modern

society?2) Breaks His Own Rules? - Gives a very negative one-sided account of modern society- Presents it as “the truth”3) Problems with methods problems with his view of rise and nature of modern society