Weber

Question 1

Characteristics

Answer 1

• focused on rationalization, bureaucracy and social stratification
• pessimistic about the possibility of individual freedom.

Question 2

Sociological Framework

Answer 2

argued for social action through interpretive means, based on the meaning that people attach to their actions.

Question 3

Verhesten

Answer 3

empathetic understanding of human behavior

Question 4

Social Action

Answer 4

those that take other people’s behavior into account.

Question 5

What are the ideal types of social action?

Answer 5

1. Traditional: settled customs and habits
2. Affective: determined by emotional states/impulses
3. Value rational: based on intrinsic value of religious belief
4. Instrumental: organizes behaviour by treating objects and other human beings as means to achieving an end

Question 6

What caused the shift from traditional feudalism to modern feudalism

Answer 6

social change occurs when there is a shift in how people think.
Protestant reformation was crucial in developing modern capitalist society
- ideas of personal responsibility
- work ethic
- entrepreneurialism
- prudence
rational ordered ways of thinking and acting

Question 7

What is the process of rationalization?

Answer 7

The rise of bureaucracy in modern society.

1. Specialized roles
2. recruitment based merit
3. uniform principles of placement
4. supremacy of abstract rules
5. impersonal authority.

Question 8

What are the good effects of the process of rationalization?

Answer 8

clear rules, goal oriented society, efficient

Question 9

What are the negative effects of the process of rationalization?

Answer 9

inflexible, overspecialized, exploitative society.

Question 10

What are the types of legitimate authority

Answer 10

1. Traditional: claims legitimacy on basis of existing traditions that say who can be authority
2. Charismatic: claims legitimacy on the basis of sanctity, heroism, or otherwise impressive characteristics.
3. Legal rational: claims legitimacy based on a common belief in the legality of rules and exercize of authority.

Question 11

Sociological study of law

Answer 11

• law oriented behaviour os shaped by an understanding of law and how they think others understand the law
• law is obeyed because it is seen as legitimate
• legal order requires presence of law people to ensure that laws are obeyed

Question 12

Logical formalist study of law

Answer 12

• law is distinct and rational
• law is made up of two fundamental activities: enforcement and adjudication
• there are formal versus substantive law systems, and rational versus irrational procedures.

Question 13

Describe the typology of legal social action

Answer 13

Substantive irrational: ad hoc approach to law, leaping to conclusions

Formal Irrational: law making by prophetic revelation

Substantive rational: follows clearly defined principles with ethical framework

Formal rational: systemic, rule governed, not ethics based.

Question 14

Criticisms of Weber

Answer 14

His definition of law is coercive and entailing special staff. Protestantism gave rise to capitalist values. His value free analysis is impossible. He has a pessimistic and defeatist view of modern society, and resistance of iron cage is not sufficiently considered.