Weber Study

Question 1

Interpretive Sociology

Answer 1

different than functionalist and critical conflict. ADDS HUMAN ELEMENT. A type of micro sociology

Question 2

Weber concept of Verstehe

Answer 2

(german word for “understand”)
An approach towards theory about what we CAN know. Weber doesn’t believe in nomothetic knowledge, he stems from a micro interpretive place in sociology. The reality will always be ground in the INDIVIDUAL and not the STRUCTURE.

Question 3

Verstehe

Answer 3

“When you understand the individual, you can understand the society”

Question 4

Idiographic

Answer 4

explaining something with one particular in detail case
In sociolgy, this is explaining society. An idiographic society is explaining society through the individual

Question 5

Fallacy of conflation

Answer 5

Durkheim and Marx think Weber is committing this through interpretivism.

Question 6

Weber explains structure through

Answer 6

he is a conflict theorist. He believes structures arise through peoples actions. The way people interpret their reality gives rise to social structures

Question 7

Structures and Individuals interactions

Answer 7

Weber says that structures also act back upon individuals, just as they initially give rise to those structures.
Critique of Marx and Durkheim’s view that structures are in and of themselves the issue, because it is individuals who create them and then those that act back upon those individuals.

Question 8

Elective Affinity

Answer 8

Opposite of Teliology.

Something with a multitude of influences, but it’s end state cannot be predicted because it has agency.

Weber’s idea of causality

Question 9

Macro versus micro sociology

Answer 9

Weber rejects macro sociology, which is the idea that individuals only act because structures force them to

Question 10

Teliology

Answer 10

The idea that something will always reproduce itself when given the chance to do so. Something without agency.
To Durkheim, society is teliogical.
To Marx, it is Capitalism that is teliological.

To Weber, it is not society or capitalism. For Weber, you can’t make an accurate prediction about society because there are too many structures and influences. Weber says that NOTHING is teliological. Weber grants individuals agency.

Question 11

Structural cause

Answer 11

point A to point B to point C - predictable

Question 12

Weber idea of causality

Answer 12

Effective affinity - unpredictable outcome.

Question 13

Protestant Ethic

Answer 13

The way in which protestant see reality brings forth a new kind of Capitalism. Protestant belief: The interpretive process is individualized - money is no longer the root of evil, but spending it in hedonistic ways is. New protestant belief is that if you follow God’s will, God will reward you and wealth is a sign of that.

This become beurocratized to such an extent that you create new form of economics. A rational monetary structure. You cannot NOT act in this way.

Question 14

Rational and traditional Capitalism

Answer 14

Weber’s idea of protestant ethic. The new kind of Capitalism that protestant brings about.

Question 15

Doctrine of Salvation/Doctrine of the Calling

Answer 15

Predeterminism. God already knows who will be saved and salvation comes from grace, not deeds. In Catholicism, you can simply do good deeds and get into heaven. This is the theory that it is about your orientation towards this divine spirit which matters. You can prove that you are one of the “saved” by working hard (wealth).

The spirit of Capitalism. Capitalism is about getting ahead in your field, being micro specialized in something (Durkheim view). Weber says these doctrines are a new form of Capitalism because you need to get to the “top of your field”, make as much wealth as possible (because this is a sign of God) to prove you are one of the “saved”

Question 16

What is the ideal type of Beaurocracy

Answer 16

Ideal beaurocracy are rational ones versus traditional ones.

Hierarchies, written rules that govern all procedures, your position requires qualifications and skills, promotion depends on achievement, distinct separation between home and work life, nobody owns the resources and social structures are highly resilient

Question 17

protestant demistification

Answer 17

for catholics, it is literal body and blood of christ. For protestants, it is symbolic. Protestant ethic takes the “magic” out of it all and makes it all rational and efficient.

Question 18

Ideal types of social action

Answer 18

Four types of ideal social actions:
1. goal rational - goal driven by the actor
2. value rational - ethical. aesthetic, religious, etc.
3. affective - emotional. impulsive, consequences not thought out.
4. traditional - doing something because someone told you to.
example: (has to be motive driven). Going to college is a good example.

Question 19

Ideal types concept

Answer 19

A way of comparing something in the world to these social structures that we have. An abstract label to reference something you’re observing. “That action is THIS”. IE: masculinity versus feminitity. almost intuitive. observable reality.

Question 20

power: 3 types of legitimate authority

Answer 20

Ability to get what you want despite the resistance of others. Can be through many mechanisms.
3 types:
- legal rational - the authority of an organization or a ruling regime is largely tied to legal rationality, legal legitimacy, and bureaucracy
- traditional - a person or structure has power or influence derived from long-standing customs, beliefs, or traditions
- charismatic - authority derives from the charisma of the leader. Conduit for real social change WITHIN legal rational authority. It offers a figure to get behind who is relatable. Legal rational is NOT relatable. Human quality in this.

traditional and charismatic are being pushed out by legal rational

Question 21

Class, Status, Party

Answer 21

Parties are groups that are organized around a goal of power/influence. “Parties live in a house of power.” Parties actions are oriented towards the acquisition of social power.
Weber would say a party is anything that is trying to attain social power/social action, no matter how small. They do not have to be defined by their ownership, meaning that you are more than your class or your status.
Status is the social estimation of honor. Your title. PhD versus bachelor. Classes and status come together to create parties insofar as parties are trying to “get their way” and use class and status to do that.

Question 22

Beaurocracy def.
Ideal type def.

Answer 22

Beaurocracy: Rationalized institutional arrangements

Ideal type: abstract concept.