WEBER, FREUD, DURKHEIM

Weber, Freud, Durkheim



Weber, Freud, Durkheim

Introduction

Weber stressed the need for social theory to break through materialist and idealist models of explanation to indicate the "elective affinity" of different social conditions. However, his interests were not revolutionary oriented to praxis (Marx), nor scientifically directed at the establishment of a science of society (Durkheim), rather, his sociology is inspired by the concrete political concerns of Weber as a citizen of Germany: his attention goes out to the ways in which German political life should be ordered with the advent of bureaucracy and industrial capitalism and the decline of traditional world-views. (Weber 1997, 31 )

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism by Max Weber

An Objective Sociology of Subjectivity

The differentiation of subject and object (and the corresponding distinctions between social and natural sciences) does not mean that the social sciences, which necessarily deal with ideal phenomena, cannot be objective. Social sciences cannot scientifically establish the ideals or normative principles which define what ought to be. But one can distinguish means and ends of action, and science can determine what the best means are, given that end. Sociology can, then, also say that some ends are useless since there are, and can be, no means to achieve those goals. Or sociology can also determine and explicitly state the axioms on which certain attitudes and statements rest. (Weber 1997, 31 )

There is therefore no universal ethics. No single set of ideals can be shown scientifically to be right or wrong. This is why there is religion, it is directed towards ultimate ends. On the other hand, sociology can assist in an ethics of responsibility, which seeks to find the rational calculus by which means are employed to ends, and the consequences they actually have, regardless of (despite of) the intentions. (Weber 1997, 34)

Social Relationships

A social relationship is defined as a reciprocal interaction between two or more individuals, which does not necessarily mean that the meanings of all actors are identical, but that there must be meaning involved in any case on the part of the inter-actors (an orientation to).

Weber distinguishes four ideal-typical types of orientation in social relationships:

1) Purposive rational action is directed by the successful calculation of means towards a give end;

2) Value rational action is directed towards an ideal and is carried out for its own sake;

3) Affective action is also carried out for its own sake, yet it lacks a clear ideal, and rests on an emotive state; and

4) Traditional action is carried out under the influence of a custom or habit. (Weber 1997, 39)

There is the statistical fact that in modern capitalist societies, the high-skilled workers and the entrepreneurs are overwhelmingly Protestant. The connection between economic rationality in capitalism and Protestantism Weber will trace in the character of Protestant beliefs. This connection in itself is nothing special (Marx saw Protestantism as the ideological reflection of capitalism), but Weber suggest an alternative explanation. He will focus on cultural elements which, he will show, have are a peculiar independent ...