Contributions of Max Weber to Sociology Studies
Introduction
Max Weber was a German political economist as well as a socialist who was born in early 1864 and died at age of 56 in 1920. He extensively influenced the entire discipline of sociology. During his life, Weber engaged himself in rationalization, modernity as well as capitalism alongside his other associates in the field of sociology. He has been described as the most significant common thinker as far as social sciences is concerned. Max Weber therefore regarded as one of the founders of contemporary sociology as a separate social science and his work is believed to have been more intricate and determined.
Contributions
It is worth noting that Max Weber’s main contributions relied mostly on political sociology, religion of sociology and economic sociology as well as sociology of law which are the key component of modern sociology. Weber’s thinking constituted the similarity between Protestantism and capitalism which were the basis of western religion. He also contemplated on the personality influence on politics and religion (Pugh, 2007).
He eventually sought to embrace rationalization in order to highlight the significance ‘disenchantment’ of religion and the modern world. During his works, Weber attempted to find the aggressive relationship between eroticism and rationalism (Stone, 2010).Through his thinking he offered sociology as a science that mainly dealt with human collective actions. He went ahead to differentiate the human collective actions into influential, traditional and value- rational actions.
Weber showed that both religion and economics were compatible and not autonomous as many people would think. He therefore acknowledged that social establishments can not work independently but they are instead dependant on each other. This is because he noted that when changes occurred in spiritual establishments they subsequently added to a adjustment in the economic establishments. He cited that the interactions between religious thoughts had an impact on the economic behavior (Stone, 2010).He illustrated this phenomenon after the reformation of catholic countries and protestant countries. Through this he showed how upcoming values of Protestantism largely sustained the progression of contemporary capitalism. During his works Weber showed that Protestantism especially Calvinism supported economic achievements.
Politics and Government
It is worth noting that during his works, Weber brought into light the idea of bureaucracy which according to him was a signal of the future. It is from this thought of bureaucracy that Weber highlighted and differentiated three kids of authority that are legitimate in our societies today. These authorities include traditional authority, rational legal authority as well as charismatic authority. However, Weber did not favor both charismatic and traditional authorities since he thought that leaders who are chosen according to tradition may not posses good leadership skills therefore they could make wrong decision regarding issues. He however rested on legal- rational authority which involves bureaucratic rules. In this type of authority people are chosen in regards to their proficiency. Additionally, responsibilities and powers to this type of authority are clearly outlined (Pugh, 2007).
Weber revealed state definition which had become essential to social thought of the western world. He defined state as body which holds powers that can be delegated. He also stressed that, state is a monopoly on the legal use of corporal force. Consequently, he argued that politics is any activity that the state engages in so as to manipulate the virtual force distribution. Weber distinguished between politics and religion where he said that a political kingdom is far different from a kingdom of saints (Stone, 2010).He therefore acknowledged that a politician must show responsibility and show passion for his occupation.
Weber is also remembered for formulating the components theory of stratification which he referred to the presumption of ‘life chances’. The components included social class which is based on economical markets, social status which forms its basis on non-economical traits as well as party which refers to attachments on political sphere. Weber indicated that power conflicts that are organized are quite important in all facets of social life. During his works, Weber stressed that for sociology to be significant, a kind of understanding of occurrence under scrutiny he referred to as ‘Vershtehan’ should be adopted (Stone, 2010).
Notably, Weber offered philosophical foundation for collective sciences as well as an assortment of studies that covers economic history, world’s ancient religions such as, Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Judaism among others. He also outlined the ancient societies as well as enhancement of current societies through rationalization. He therefore emphasized that our day to day life is usually influenced by both societal and cultural rationalization as well as traditional ways of lives (Pugh, 2007).
Through his premise of value of freedom, Weber illustrated that the option of sociology and science was a value of selection which could essentially not be reasonable as far as instrumental rationality is concerned. By this he meant that social scientific exertion is governed by values which include individual values, community values as well as cultural values.
Conclusion
Notably, Max Weber’s contributions to sociology are immense and significant to the society today. His studies of ancient religions form basis of western civilization as well the foundation of our today’s religions. He modified sociology to form a conceptual frame work of modern sociology through his influential discipline to both social research and social theory. He is therefore regarded as s prominent sociologist, political economist, historian who played a major role in forming the modern sociology as a separate social science.
References
Pugh, D. (2007). Great writers on organizations. Australia: Ashgate Publishing. Retrieved from http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=QHC95CJAnAMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Great +writers+on+organizations&source=bl&ots=8JMQ0M4est&sig=adrsOVe3W8YC-i- Q83ESCcdtohQ&hl=en&ei=KIO1TIy4C5CdOpaRgYkK&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=res ult&resnum=2&ved=0CCAQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
Stone, L. (2010). Max Weber and the moral ideas of sociology. Journal of classical sociology. Journal of Classical Sociology May 2010 vol. 10 no. 2 123-13.Retrieved from http://jcs.sagepub.com/content/10/2/123.abstract?rss=1
