True or False
Objectivity doesn't preclude attentiveness to the relevance of historical and cultural context.
True
Weber categorized social actions into four types: traditional, emotional, value-rational, and instrumental-rational.
True
Value-rational: people have a value, and act rationally on that value, regardless of the cost
Instrumental-rational: strategic, cost-benefit action (the most effective means of reaching end goal)
Emotional: a person's present feelings dictate their actions
Traditional: following tradition and customs because that's how things have previously been done
What is Weber’s Sociology task?
To study of subjectively meaningful action
What drives instrumental rational action?
Assessment of the costs and benefits of selecting particular courses of action.
cost-benefit analysis
What is an example of bureaucratic organization?
The Pentagon, Dept of Justice, the military
Science can tell us what goals to pursue and what values to cherish.
False
Science doesn't tell us what merits scientific investigation, or necessarily how scientific discoveries benefit us.
Weber believes that science can't answer humanity's biggest question, "What shall we do, and how shall we live?" a.k.a. the meaning of life
Non-rational action is primarily driven by emotions, instincts, or traditions rather than logical reasoning.
True
Emotional action: a person's present feelings dictate their actions
Traditional action: following tradition and customs because that's how things have previously been done
Weber's main contribution to understanding the role of sociology in society?
He emphasized the importance of understanding social action by interpreting the meanings individuals attach to their actions.
What is charismatic authority?
comes from an individual
unstable: needs to routinized to ensure the continuation of goals
What is a characteristic of a bureaucracy?
Hierarchy of offices/divisions/personnel; Division of labor, specific competencies; Contractual relationships; Certified expertise, appointed not elected, etc.
Max Weber argued that Protestantism, particularly Calvinism, played a significant role in the development of modern capitalism.
True
Protestantism emphasizes the importance of hard work (and laziness/idleness as sin). This unintentionally helped shape capitalism by embedding hard work as a value in some nation's collective consciousness.
Social action can only be individual and cannot occur in group settings.
False
What are this-wordly concerns and other-wordly concerns?
this-worldly concerns: economic activity, material acquisition, and wealth
other-worldly concerns: afterlife, salvation
Weber was interested in their relationship in the context of modern capitalism, specifically in the way that it manifested for Protestants and Catholics. This led to his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
What is (rational) legal authority?
based on rational, impersonal norms and rules
imposed by the state and other bureaucratic organizations
dominant in modern society
What term refers to the ability of individuals or groups to influence or control the behavior of others in a political context?
Political power
The Puritan Ethic advocates for a lifestyle centered around leisure and enjoyment rather than rigorous work and self-discipline.
False
The Puritan Ethic emphasizes the importance of hard work, frugality, and discipline as moral virtues.
Stratification affects individuals (economic) class, status (prestige/lifestyle), and party (political power).
True
Stratification: the structures and processes in society which determine individuals' objective location in a hierarchical system of social classes or strata.
"structures and processes" = class, status, and party
Who is considered the founder of Calvinism?
John Calvin
What is traditional authority?
derived from long-established traditions or customs
dominant in traditional societies, but coexists in modern society with legal-bureaucratic and charismatic authority
How does Weber define class?
Weber uses class to denote individuals who have similar economic interest and assets, and who have similar life chances as a result of property, income, and labor market opportunity.
Sees property and lack thereof as a major factor, (including whether property is entrepreneurial or commercial).
In Calvinist belief, the concept of predestination means that all people will ultimately be saved.
False
Calvinists believed that people were predestined at birth to go to heaven or hell.
Charismatic authority is temporary
True
Charisma belongs to an influentially charming individual.
In order for a charismatic authority's mission/goals to continue after their death, routinization of charisma can occur. (Ex. the Catholic Church continues to hold influence even after the death of their charismatic authority, Jesus)
Name one way in which John D Rockefeller was a Calvinist?
Hard worker, frugal, and thrifty
What could be considered a value rational action commitment?
To God, family, or country
Having a value --> taking rational actions that support this value (regardless of cost)
What are the multiple class groups?
Modern: Working, lower middle, middle, business
Weber's middle classes are working class (laborers), the petty bourgeoisie (self-employed farmers, grocers, and craftsmen), the property-less intelligentsia and specialists (white-collar employees, civil servants), and the classes privileged through property and education
blue collar workers, small business owners, white collar workers, old money