Max Weber: Readings and Commentary on Modernity

Copyright © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Max Weber: Readings and Commentary on Modernity

Editor(s): Stephen Kalberg

Published Online: 25 FEB 2008

Print ISBN: 9780631214892

Online ISBN: 9780470773369

DOI: 10.1002/9780470773369

About this Book

Product Information

About The Product

This unique volume gathers Weber's writings on a broad array of themes, from the nature of work, to the political culture of democracy, to the uniqueness of the West, to the character of the family and race relations, to the role of science and the fate of ethical action in the modern world.

  • Gathers Weber's writings in a comprehensive collection, organized by topic.
  • Rejuvenates a central, pivotal theme of Weberian thought: "How do we live?" and "How can we live in the industrial society?"
  • Connects Weber's writings to contemporary issues through modern essays and editorial introductions.

Table of contents

    1. You have free access to this content
      Frontmatter (pages i–xxxiii)

    1. Introduction ‒ Max Weber: The Confrontation with Modernity (pages 1–47)

      Stephen Kalberg

  3. Part 1: The Uniqueness of the West

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      Introduction (pages 49–51)

    2. Chapter 1

      The “Rationalism” of Western Civilization (pages 53–67)

  4. Part 2: The Uniqueness and Origins of the Modern Western Work Ethic

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      Introduction (pages 69–74)

    2. Chapter 2

      The Religious Origins of the Vocational Calling: The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism (pages 75–110)

    3. Chapter 3

      Continuous Ethical Discipline (pages 111–119)

  5. Part 3: The Economy, the Workplace, and the Specialized Nature of Work in the Modern Epoch

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      Introduction (pages 121–124)

    2. Chapter 4

      Market and Planned Economies: Modern Capitalism's Substantive Conditions (pages 125–129)

    3. Chapter 5

      The Separation of the Worker from the Means of Production, the Spread of Officialdom, and Organizational Discipline in the Factory (pages 130–136)

    4. Chapter 6

      The “Specialist” and the “Cultivated Man”: Certificates and the Origin of Ideas in Science (pages 137–141)

    5. Chapter 7

      Old and New Civilizations: Contrasting Rural Social Structures in Germany and the United States (pages 142–146)

  6. Part 4: Stratification and Inequality

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      Introduction (pages 147–150)

    2. Chapter 8

      The Distribution of Power Within the Group: Class, Status, Party (pages 151–162)

    3. Chapter 9

      Germany as a Nation of Commoners (pages 163–167)

    4. Chapter 10

      The Counterbalancing of Economic and Social Inequality by Universal Suffrage (pages 168–171)

  7. Part 5: Authority in the Modern Epoch

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      Introduction (pages 173–178)

    2. Chapter 11

      Power and Authority: When and Why do People Obey? (pages 179–193)

    3. Chapter 12

      The Bureaucracy I: External Form, Technical Superiority, Ethos, and Inequality (pages 194–208)

    4. Chapter 13

      The Bureaucracy II: The Impact Upon Society (pages 209–216)

    5. Chapter 14

      Past and Present: Charismatic Authority and its Routinization (pages 217–220)

  8. Part 6: The Nation, the Modern State, and Modern Law

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      Introduction (pages 221–224)

    2. Chapter 15

      The Nation: A Sentiment of Solidarity and the “National” Idea (pages 225–229)

    3. Chapter 16

      The State, its Basic Functions, and the Economic Foundations of Imperialism (pages 230–237)

    4. Chapter 17

      From Particularistic Law to Formal Legal Equality and the Rights of Individuals (pages 238–244)

  9. Part 7: The Circumscription of Ethical Action Today and Weber's Response

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      Introduction (pages 245–249)

    2. Chapter 18

      The Antagonism of the Economy and Political Domains to Ethical Action (pages 251–254)

    3. Chapter 19

      A “Casing of Bondage” and the Rule of Functionaries: The Call for Political Leadership, Strong Parliaments, and an Ethic of Responsibility (pages 255–271)

  10. Part 8: The Political Culture of American Democracy: The Influence of the “Sect Spirit”

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      Introduction (pages 273–276)

    2. Chapter 20

      The Autonomy of the Individual in the Sect and the Ability to Form Democratic Communities: Tolerance and Freedom of Conscience (pages 277–289)

  11. Part 9: On “Race,” the Complexity of the Concept of Ethnicity, and Heredity

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      Introduction (pages 291–295)

    2. Chapter 21

      On “Race” Membership, Common Ethnicity, the “Ethnic Group,” and Heredity (pages 297–314)

  12. Part 10: The Meaning, Value, and Value-Freedom of Science: “Science as a Vocation” and Other Writings

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      Introduction (pages 315–320)

    2. Chapter 22

      The Meaning and Value of Science: Disenchantment, “progress”, and Civilized Man's Meaninglessness (pages 321–327)

    3. Chapter 23

      Ethical Neutrality in the Classroom and the Usefulness and Limits of an Empirical Science (pages 328–336)

    4. Chapter 24

      The Opposition of Salvation Religions to Science and Modern Culture (pages 337–343)

  13. Part 11: Modern Readings

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      Introduction (pages 345–346)

    2. Chapter 25

      Private Authority and Work Habits: England and Russia (pages 347–352)

    3. Chapter 26

      The Data Protection Act: A Case of Rationalization (pages 353–356)

    4. Chapter 27

      The McDonaldization of Society: George Ritzer (pages 357–360)

    5. Chapter 28

      Hitler's Charisma: Luciano Cavalli (pages 361–362)

    6. Chapter 29

      The Routinization of Charisma: Rituals of Confession Within Communities of Virtuosi (pages 363–366)

    7. Chapter 30

      The Political Culture of American Democracy: The Enduring Influence of Religion (pages 367–375)

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      Bibliography (pages 377–382)

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      Author Index (page 383)

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      Subject Index (pages 385–398)

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