Weber

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Weber

One of the founding fathers of sociology, alongside Marx and Durkheim.

Interpretivist

Based on understanding the purpose and meaning that individuals attach to their own actions. Weber's main intellectual concern was understanding the processes of rationalisation, secularisation, and "disenchantment" that he associated with the rise of capitalism and modernity.

The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism (1905)

Transition from feudal to capitalist society as a case study to look at the importance of religion and ideology to the creation of major social change.

Identifies all of the early major capitalist societies as protestant ones.

'spirit of capitalism' = protestantism fits capitalism and encourages capitalist ways of looking at the world and acting within it.

Looks at Calvinist strand of Protestantism, western capitalists and entrepreneurs were Calvinist.

Calvinist traditions:

hard work, rewarded by God ('work ethic')

Calvinist concept of vocation - work is a calling and had to be done for the greater glory of God.

God blessed them with material success. Belief it was wrong to spend money on frivolous objects, reinvested money back into business, generate more wealth e.g. land and machinery.

lending money with interest wasn't seen as sinful.

relatively high literacy rate amongst calvinists

Above are essential skills for a entrepreneur.

Key Ideas

religion results in its own socio-economic changes.

Ideology effects and shapes peoples behaviour e.g. the way in which Calvinists went about their business and accumulated wealth.

Religion can influence social change.

Marxists would argue Weber demonstrates the actions of the elite capitalist upper classes - who use religion to subordinate others.

There was the founders of these businesses which created the shift from feudalism to capitalism, then there was majority who didn't and ended up as workers.

Not spending money and putting back into business, also private property - which Marx was critical of.

"Iron Cage of Rationality"

What is this?

Modern society had a tendency to go towards rational, goal orientated action.

Likely results of behaviour in relation to goal e.g. salesperson valuing a wealthy customer more than a poor one as they are more likely to gain commission from the more wealthy customer.

Penetrated all areas of society, known as the 'Iron Cage of Rationality'.

Protestant Ethic was the source of rationalisation. Religion generated a culture of hard workers and rationalisation

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