SOCY111

Study Unit 2
Weber

Theoretical Perspectives: Weber

Outcomes

On completion of this study unit you should be able

to:
• Discuss Max Weber’s contributions to Sociology.
Readings

• Stewart, P. & Zaaiman, J.

(eds). 2020. Sociology: A
Comprehensive South African
Introduction. 2nd ed. Cape
Town: Juta. (Chapter 1)

• Power Point Power Point

Slides
 Key figures in Sociology

This we cover in Study Unit 2

• Auguste Comte
• Emile Durkheim
• Karl Marx
• Max Weber

Bronne / Sources: Stewart en/and Zaaiman (2015, hoofstuk 1 / chapter 1)

Skakels… / Links…

Theoretical paradigm
Meta-theory Theorist

Functionalism Auguste Comte

Positivism Emilé Durkheim

Interpretivism Symbolic Interactionism George Herbert Mead

Max Weber
(Verstehen)

Marxism Karl Marx

Conflict theory Feminism Feminists
Bron / Source: https://www.google.co.za/search?
q=translate+english+to+afrikaans&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwim3Nf30fvKAhWIlxoKHRdkDKwQ_AUIBigB#tbm=isch&q=functionalism+body+analogy&imgrc=qPnPTA7oaFcACM%3A
Sleutel figure / Key figures: Weber (1864-1920)
• German sociologist
• Focus: to identify and understand the
social forces responsible for driving the
changes of a rapidly evolving
industrializing modern world economy
and society.
• Critique against only structural approach
to society – i.e. explaining the actions of
individual solely as a function of, or as
powerfully influenced by the broader
social context within which they took
place.
Sleutel figure / Key figures: Weber (1864-1920)

• Verstehen
• Social action
• Rational nature of society
• Ideal types
• Bureacracy
• “Disenchantment”
• Social authority
• Hope for “inspiration”?
Understanding society

• Developed the notion of “Verstehen”– interpretive understanding.

• a methodological approach in sociology that emphasizes the
importance of understanding the subjective meanings and
interpretations that individuals attach to their actions and social
interactions.
• Therefore, unlike other sociologists, the unit of analysis was not a
social group but the individual and individual action.
• As individuals, we interpret the world around us.
• “…interpret the meaning of social action and thereby give a causal
explanation of the way in which the action proceeds and the effect it
produces”
• Distinguish between behaviour and action
• B = automatic and instinctive
• A = intentional and for a reason
Sleutel figure / Key figures: Weber (1864-1920)

• Verstehen
• Social action
• Rational nature of society
• Ideal types
• Bureacracy
• Stratification
• “Disenchantment”
• Social authority
Social action
• Social action results from independent individual agency
• SA = Active and reactive, NOT passive
• SA = is social because it is directed towards other social
agents = reciprocal
(take into account of the social context within which we act and
the reaction of others around us).
• To understand society = understand how we create
meaning, how we act based on these meanings we attach to
situations, events and other’s actions.
Nature of social structure?
How are the actions of the individual and large-scale structures
are linked?
• Structure (and individual's relationship to it) only understood
in relation to social action
• Divides the social world into THREE basic social structures
(linked to action)
• Association and affective social action
• Community and traditional social action
• Society and rational social action
Nature of social structure?

THREE basic social structures

• Association and affective social action
• People come together when feelings or
sentiments are shared.
• “We associate with those with whom we have an affinity”
• Emotive
• Social bonds that we create – friendships
Nature of social structure?

THREE basic social structures

• Community and traditional social action
• "..close-knit social group going back to ancient times"
• Habitual and traditional smaller groups(habit and tradition
predominate)
• "One does things in a certain way because that is always the
way things have been done"
• Socialization
• Taught that way …
Sleutel figure / Key figures: Weber (1864-1920)

• Verstehen
• Social action
• Rational nature of society
• Bureacracy
• “Disenchantment”
• Social authority
Nature of social structure?

THREE basic social structures

• Society and rational social action
• More complex and rational action – specific purpose
• Specific reason for acting in a particular way
• Instrumental rationality = study to pass (means to an end)
• Value-rational action = act because of certain values that are
important to us (love to help others/meet our obligations)
/ Nature of social structure?

Domination of rational action …

• Formal rationality
• Institutions (universities) – regulations
• Bureaucracy
• Substantive rationality
• Value-driven objectives
• Social movements
• “…embody and promote a set of values and
corresponding actions by their members”

Why is rationality so dominant?

Why is rationality so dominant?

Formal rationality = NB

“The spirit of capitalism and religion”

• The cultural system (norms, values and beliefs) which direct human
social action
• Protestant churches (Calvinism) – values which support capitalism
• “Hard work, thrift, living a frugal life and saving and investing” / link
between "spirit of capitalism" and religious values
Why is rationality so dominant?

“The spirit of capitalism and religion”

• “Chosen” or “damned”
• John Calvin – “predestination” – “before birth
divided in groups“”
• Only a small number of people
• Lot / Destiny
• “…people were predestined to be among the
saved or among the damned” (Ritzer, 2017:146)
• “Divine Providence”
• More secular in current society & forms
 Bureaucracy

• Large scale organisation divided into offices

staffed by people in different ranks
• Feature = industrialisation
• Ideal type features = specific objective,
hierarchical, official functions, written rules and
regulations, objective execution of functions
• Necessary to organise people effectively = but
results in an “over-regulation” of life
Bureaucracy
• Bureaucracy = “rule by officials”
• Legal authority
• “Disenchantment” – “destructive”
• “…we make rational, cold and deliberate decisions about how to
behave rather than using our traditions, customs…or spiritual
beliefs to guide us”
• Serious threat to individual agency
• People do not have have much control
over their own lives and work
Key figures: Weber (1864-1920)

• Verstehen
• Social action
• Rational nature of society
• Bureacracy
• Stratification
• “Disenchantment”
• Social authority
Dimensions of social stratification

Unique experiences

Three dimensions:
• Class (Economic)
• Status / Prestige (Cultural & social)
• Parties (power – political)
Dimensions of social stratification

Class
• Same life chances
• Economic dimension
• Access to material
• Measured = income, property and financial assets
 Dimensions of social stratification

Status
• Prestige – social honour, recognition, worth
• Lifestyle
• Similar life chances, awareness
• Association between class and status
• One may lead to the other, but not necessarily the
same
• Plumber & academic
Dimensies van sosiale stratifikasie / Dimensions of social
stratification

Parties
• Power, political dimension –
social power
• Capacity for influence even
with opposition
• Capacity for negotiation NB
• Also associated with foregoing
two
Key figures: Weber (1864-1920)

• Verstehen
• Social action
• Rational nature of society
• Bureacracy
• Stratification
• “Disenchantment”
• Social authority
Forms of authority

• Rational legal authority

• Most effective form of social regulation in society
• Dominates modern society
• Bureaucracy
Vorme van gesag / Forms of authority

• Traditional authority
• Pre-industrial society
• Less complex
• "Personal loyalty"
• Community, traditional leader, patriarchy
• Gerontocracy
Forms of authority
Charismatic authority
• Special, super-human and extraordinary
features
• “…beacon of light in a disenchanted world
and is treated with god-like status”
• Change and inspiration
Revolutionary = threat to existing
system
• “Re-enchantment of the world again seems
possible”
• Yet = routine
•
Current South African context
versus 1994?
Key figures: Weber (1864-1920)

• Verstehen
• Social action
• Rational nature of society
• Bureacracy
• Stratification
• “Disenchantment”
• Social authority
Thank you