Max Weber Readings And Commentary On Modernity

by Kalberg, Stephen

• ISBN13: 9780631214908
• ISBN10: 0631214909
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-02-11
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This unique volume gathers Weber's writings on a broad array of themes, from the nature of work, to the political culture of democracy, to the uniqueness of the West, to the character of the family and race relations, to the role of science and the fate of ethical action in the modern world. Gathers Weber's writings in a comprehensive collection, organized by topic. Rejuvenates a central, pivotal theme of Weberian thought: "How do we live?" and "How can we live in the industrial society?" Connects Weber's writings to contemporary issues through modern essays and editorial introductions.

Author Biography

Stephen Kalberg is Associate Professor of Sociology at Boston University and one of the world's leading Weber scholars. He is the author of Max Weber's Comparative Historical Sociology (1993) and translator and editor of a new edition of Weber's Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (Blackwell, 2001).

Table of Contents

General Editor's Foreword	xi
Chronology of Max Weber's Life	xv
Glossary	xxi
Acknowledgments	xxxi
Introduction -- Max Weber: The Confrontation with Modernity	1	(6)
Stephen Kalberg
Max Weber: The Man	7	(1)
Foundational Features of Weber's Interpretive Understanding Sociology	8	(6)
Research Strategies and Procedures	14	(5)
The Vision of ``Society''	19	(3)
Weber's Multicausality	22	(5)
Modern Western Rationalism I: Weber's Model	27	(3)
Modern Western Rationalism II: Empirical Variation	30	(4)
Fears about the Future and Proposals for Social Change	34	(3)
Weber on Modernity and Weber's Sociology: An Assessment	37	(4)
Notes	41	(8)
Part I The Uniqueness of the West	49	(20)
Introduction	49	(4)
The ``Rationalism'' of Western Civilization	53	(16)
From ``Prefatory Remarks'' to Collected Essays on the Sociology of Religion	53	(11)
From The Religion of India	64	(1)
From Economy and Society	65	(4)
Part II The Uniqueness and Origins of the Modern Western Work Ethic	69	(52)
Introduction	69	(6)
The Religious Origins of the Vocational Calling: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism	75	(36)
From The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism	75	(32)
From ``Discussion Contributions''	107	(1)
From ``On the Psychological Physics of Industrial Work''	108	(3)
Continuous Ethical Discipline	111	(10)
From ``The Protestant Sects and the Spirit of Capitalism''	111	(10)
Part III The Economy, the Workplace, and the Specialized Nature of Work in the Modern Epoch	121	(26)
Introduction	121	(4)
Market and Planned Economies: Modern Capitalism's Substantive Conditions	125	(5)
From Economy and Society	125	(5)
The Separation of the Worker from the Means of Production, the Spread of Officialdom, and Organizational Discipline in the Factory	130	(7)
From ``Socialism''	130	(4)
From ``A Research Strategy for the Study of Occupational Careers and Mobility Patterns''	134	(1)
From Economy and Society	135	(2)
The ``Specialist'' and the ``Cultivated Man'': Certificates and the Origin of Ideas in Science	137	(5)
From Economy and Society	137	(2)
From ``Science as a Vocation''	139	(3)
Old and New Civilizations: Contrasting Rural Social Structures in Germany and the United States	142	(5)
From ``Capitalism and Rural Society in Germany''	142	(5)
Part IV Stratification and Inequality	147	(26)
Introduction	147	(4)
The Distribution of Power Within the Group: Class, Status, Party	151	(12)
From Economy and Society	151	(12)
Germany as a Nation of Commoners	163	(5)
From ``National Character and the Junkers''	163	(5)
The Counterbalancing of Economic and Social Inequality by Universal Suffrage	168	(5)
From ``Suffrage and Democracy in Germany''	168	(5)
Part V Authority in the Modern Epoch	173	(48)
Introduction	173	(6)
Power and Authority: When and Why Do People Obey?	179	(15)
From Economy and Society	179	(15)
The Bureaucracy I: External Form, Technical Superiority, Ethos, and Inequality	194	(15)
From Economy and Society	194	(4)
From ``The Social Psychology of the World Religions''	198	(1)
From Economy and Society	198	(11)
The Bureaucracy II: The Impact upon Society	209	(8)
From Economy and Society	209	(8)
Past and Present: Charismatic Authority and its Routinization	217	(4)
From ``The Social Psychology of the World Religions''	217	(1)
From Economy and Society	218	(2)
From ``The Social Psychology of the World Religions''	220	(1)
Part VI The Nation, the Modern State, and Modern Law	221	(24)
Introduction	221	(4)
The Nation: A Sentiment of Solidarity and the ``National'' Idea	225	(5)
From Economy and Society	225	(5)
The State, its Basic Functions, and the Economic Foundations of Imperialism	230	(8)
From Economy and Society	230	(8)
From Particularistic Law to Formal Legal Equality and the Rights of Individuals	238	(7)
From Economy and Society	238	(7)
Part VII The Circumscription of Ethical Action Today and Weber's Response	245	(28)
Introduction	245	(6)
The Antagonism of the Economy and Political Domains to Ethical Action	251	(4)
From Economy and Society	251	(2)
From ``Religious Rejections of the World and Their Directions''	253	(2)
A ``Casing of Bondage'' and the Rule of Functionaries: The Call for Political Leadership, Strong Parliaments, and an Ethic of Responsibility	255	(18)
From Economy and Society	255	(2)
From ``Politics as a Vocation''	257	(3)
From Economy and Society	260	(2)
From ``Suffrage and Democracy in Germany''	262	(3)
From ``Politics as a Vocation''	265	(8)
Part VIII The Political Culture of American Democracy: the Influence of the ``Sect Spirit''	273	(18)
Introduction	273	(4)
The Autonomy of the Individual in the Sect and the Ability to Form Democratic Communities: Tolerance and Freedom of Conscience	277	(14)
From The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism	277	(3)
From Economy and Society	280	(1)
From The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism	280	(2)
From Economy and Society	282	(2)
From ``'Churches' and `Sects' in North America''	284	(3)
From Economy and Society	287	(1)
From ``'Churches' and `Sects' in North America''	287	(1)
From The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism	288	(3)
Part IX On ``Race,'' the Complexity of the Concept of Ethnicity, and Heredity	291	(24)
Introduction	291	(6)
On ``Race'' Membership, Common Ethnicity, the ``Ethnic Group,'' and Heredity	297	(18)
From Economy and Society	297	(9)
From ``Comment on the Lecture by Alfred Ploetz''	306	(8)
From ``Prefatory Remarks'' to Collected Essays on the Sociology of Religion	314	(1)
Part X The Meaning, Value, and Value-Freedom of Science: ``Science as a Vocation'' and Other Writings	315	(30)
Introduction	315	(6)
The Meaning and Value of Science: Disenchantment, ``Progress,'' and Civilized Man's Meaninglessness	321	(7)
From ``Science as a Vocation''	321	(7)
Ethical Neutrality in the Classroom and the Usefulness and Limits of an Empirical Science	328	(9)
From ``Science as a Vocation''	328	(7)
From ``Debate Commentary''	335	(2)
The Opposition of Salvation Religions to Science and Modern Culture	337	(8)
From ``Science as a Vocation''	337	(3)
From ``Religious Rejections of the World and Their Directions''	340	(5)
Part XI Modern Reading	345	(32)
Introduction	345	(2)
Private Authority and Work Habits: England and Russia	347	(6)
Reinhard Bendix
The Data Protection Act: A Case of Rationalization	353	(4)
Martin Albrow
The McDonaldization of Society	357	(4)
George Ritzer
Hitler's Charisma	361	(2)
Luciano Cavalli
The Routinization of Charisma: Rituals of Confession within Communities of Virtuosi	363	(4)
Hans-Georg Riegl
The Political Culture of American Democracy: The Enduring Influence of Religion	367	(10)
Seymour Martin Lipset
Bibliography	377	(6)
Author Index	383	(2)
Subject Index	385