Who was Max Weber

[Bronsky]

I have come across Max Weber lately, mainly by those who claim Marxism is dead can anyone enlighten me on what Weber stood for as opposed to Marx.

[Holden Caulfield]

^ are you doing a politics degree by any chance, actually im interested i this thread as well will save me having to read about him in books ;)

[Bronsky]

^ are you doing a politics degree by any chance, actually im interested i this thread as well will save me having to read about him in books ;)


No Its just his name keeps cropping up lately, probably as a counter to the new interest in Marxism due to the CRUNCH. !!!!!!!!! :scared:

[Hit The North]

Max Weber was a 19th/20th century sociologist who is generally considered to be a founder of the discipline. His distinctive contributions include pioneering the Interpretivist approach to sociological investigation which prioritises the meanings and understanding which underpins the motivations of social actors. Famously, he attempted to develop an alternative to historical materialism which focussed on the role of ideas in historical change (see in particular his very readable The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism). He also developed a theory of rationalisation and bureaucracy as the main form of power and authority in modern society - an 'iron cage' from which it was impossible to escape. Politically he was committed to German liberalism and was an opponent of 2nd International Marxism.

The Marxist Internet Archive have a useful introduction to his work here: http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/weber/index.htm

Strangely the MIA biographical entry for Weber claims he was an early proponent of positivism in the social sciences. This is false.