Notes: Max Weber | Sociology Mains Optional for UPSC 2024 PDF Download

 Page 1


MAX WEBER 
Syllabus 
? Social action  
? Ideal types  
? Authority  
? Bureaucracy  
? Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism 
Founding father Bridged gap between positivists & anti–positivists.  
Sociology A science which attempts at interpretative understanding of social action (in order to 
arrive at an explanation of cause & its effect) 
Subject matter drawn from idealists (i.e., interpretive understanding of social action) and 
Methodology drawn from positivists (i.e., trying to ascertain cause & effect) 
 
Why such a choice for subject matter? 
Influenced by Kantian epistemology 
What is Kantian epistemology  
That individual has consciousness & cannot be treated like matter 
Actors have individual consciousness, voluntary will  
Socio shall try to understand this 
 
And then Why such a Methodology? 
19th century Europe obsessed with scientific methods (focusing on observations, objectivity, 
testability) 
For him, science was a vocation & scientific methods its core 
Rejected methods of natural sciences 
Proposed his own scientific methods (which conformed to ideals of science).  
Like  
Ideal Types  
Causal Pluralism  
Comparative Analysis 
Page 2


MAX WEBER 
Syllabus 
? Social action  
? Ideal types  
? Authority  
? Bureaucracy  
? Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism 
Founding father Bridged gap between positivists & anti–positivists.  
Sociology A science which attempts at interpretative understanding of social action (in order to 
arrive at an explanation of cause & its effect) 
Subject matter drawn from idealists (i.e., interpretive understanding of social action) and 
Methodology drawn from positivists (i.e., trying to ascertain cause & effect) 
 
Why such a choice for subject matter? 
Influenced by Kantian epistemology 
What is Kantian epistemology  
That individual has consciousness & cannot be treated like matter 
Actors have individual consciousness, voluntary will  
Socio shall try to understand this 
 
And then Why such a Methodology? 
19th century Europe obsessed with scientific methods (focusing on observations, objectivity, 
testability) 
For him, science was a vocation & scientific methods its core 
Rejected methods of natural sciences 
Proposed his own scientific methods (which conformed to ideals of science).  
Like  
Ideal Types  
Causal Pluralism  
Comparative Analysis 
Social Action 
Book: Methodology of Social Sciences 
Any action is social if Meaning attached to it by the actor (consciously performed, some motivation) 
Orientation towards others (physically or mentally present) 
 
Scope of Sociology 
Is to interpret meaning attached to the action by the actor 
Why study social Action  
To establish cause & effect 
How to Study  
Using Verstehen (literally means comprehending or understanding) 
 
Verstehen  
Highly influenced by methods used by Karl Jespers 
Involves certain steps Investigator should –  
• Reconstruct choices & constraints of actor  
• Come at same wavelength with the actor (terms of communication, appearance, behavior) 
• Have detached interest in the actor & his situation. Ensuring objectivity. 
• Then interact with the actor to understand meanings attached. 
 
It is the only method? 
No 
There could be other methods (like ideal types) 
Establishing plurality of causes 
 
Types of Social Action 
TAWZ 
 
Traditional  
Meanings drawn by the actor from the beliefs or traditions in the society 
Affective  
Meaning comes from emotions, in a particular situation Individual consciousness is least (Fear, hatred, 
love, anger) 
 
Wert Rational  
(or value Rational) A rational action Ends are “value” driven, i.e., valued by society. Means are rational 
(Helping a poor with money, saving a drowing man) 
Zweck Rational  
(or End Rational) Ends are rational as well (Means too) Based on individual’s own needs & motivations. 
(Preparing hard for exam) 
 
Actual Action 
A mix of all these (like a color is a mix of basic colors R G B) 
Page 3


MAX WEBER 
Syllabus 
? Social action  
? Ideal types  
? Authority  
? Bureaucracy  
? Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism 
Founding father Bridged gap between positivists & anti–positivists.  
Sociology A science which attempts at interpretative understanding of social action (in order to 
arrive at an explanation of cause & its effect) 
Subject matter drawn from idealists (i.e., interpretive understanding of social action) and 
Methodology drawn from positivists (i.e., trying to ascertain cause & effect) 
 
Why such a choice for subject matter? 
Influenced by Kantian epistemology 
What is Kantian epistemology  
That individual has consciousness & cannot be treated like matter 
Actors have individual consciousness, voluntary will  
Socio shall try to understand this 
 
And then Why such a Methodology? 
19th century Europe obsessed with scientific methods (focusing on observations, objectivity, 
testability) 
For him, science was a vocation & scientific methods its core 
Rejected methods of natural sciences 
Proposed his own scientific methods (which conformed to ideals of science).  
Like  
Ideal Types  
Causal Pluralism  
Comparative Analysis 
Social Action 
Book: Methodology of Social Sciences 
Any action is social if Meaning attached to it by the actor (consciously performed, some motivation) 
Orientation towards others (physically or mentally present) 
 
Scope of Sociology 
Is to interpret meaning attached to the action by the actor 
Why study social Action  
To establish cause & effect 
How to Study  
Using Verstehen (literally means comprehending or understanding) 
 
Verstehen  
Highly influenced by methods used by Karl Jespers 
Involves certain steps Investigator should –  
• Reconstruct choices & constraints of actor  
• Come at same wavelength with the actor (terms of communication, appearance, behavior) 
• Have detached interest in the actor & his situation. Ensuring objectivity. 
• Then interact with the actor to understand meanings attached. 
 
It is the only method? 
No 
There could be other methods (like ideal types) 
Establishing plurality of causes 
 
Types of Social Action 
TAWZ 
 
Traditional  
Meanings drawn by the actor from the beliefs or traditions in the society 
Affective  
Meaning comes from emotions, in a particular situation Individual consciousness is least (Fear, hatred, 
love, anger) 
 
Wert Rational  
(or value Rational) A rational action Ends are “value” driven, i.e., valued by society. Means are rational 
(Helping a poor with money, saving a drowing man) 
Zweck Rational  
(or End Rational) Ends are rational as well (Means too) Based on individual’s own needs & motivations. 
(Preparing hard for exam) 
 
Actual Action 
A mix of all these (like a color is a mix of basic colors R G B) 
 
Ideal Types 
Not a new method Used to comprehend reality, whether natural or social 
Weber  
In sociology, social realities can be understood through ideal types 
 
What are they? 
“abstractions employed to understand complexity of social world” 
Involves identifying abstract elements (Elements can be indefinite but have to found by a trained 
investigator) 
 
Characteristics of Ideal types 
Contain specific traits 
These traits represent partial reality only (not total reality) 
Traits may not be visible (but identified analytically)  
Ideal types are logical constructs, act as measuring rods.  
Be used as a device, not as a reality. 
 
Ideal type of Authority 
 
Weber  
“Legitimate power is authority” “It is the capacity to implement one’s decision irrespective of the 
will of others” Its ideal type contains 3 elements, based on 3 sources of legitimate power 
 
3 sources of Legitimate Power  
Traditional Authority  
Derived from beliefs & traditions & values (Eg. Authority of a priest, elderly) 
 
Charismatic Authority  
From some quality of individual (Eg. : intelligence, beauty, communication skills, etc). 
 
Rational Legal  
From some rational means generally has authority of law (Eg. Bureaucrats, politicians, ministers) 
 
Actual  
Mix of all 
Weber used Ideal types for 3 things 
 
Abstract Elements 
like social action, authority etc.  
 
Particular type of behavior  
Economics, Political, Religious 
Page 4


MAX WEBER 
Syllabus 
? Social action  
? Ideal types  
? Authority  
? Bureaucracy  
? Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism 
Founding father Bridged gap between positivists & anti–positivists.  
Sociology A science which attempts at interpretative understanding of social action (in order to 
arrive at an explanation of cause & its effect) 
Subject matter drawn from idealists (i.e., interpretive understanding of social action) and 
Methodology drawn from positivists (i.e., trying to ascertain cause & effect) 
 
Why such a choice for subject matter? 
Influenced by Kantian epistemology 
What is Kantian epistemology  
That individual has consciousness & cannot be treated like matter 
Actors have individual consciousness, voluntary will  
Socio shall try to understand this 
 
And then Why such a Methodology? 
19th century Europe obsessed with scientific methods (focusing on observations, objectivity, 
testability) 
For him, science was a vocation & scientific methods its core 
Rejected methods of natural sciences 
Proposed his own scientific methods (which conformed to ideals of science).  
Like  
Ideal Types  
Causal Pluralism  
Comparative Analysis 
Social Action 
Book: Methodology of Social Sciences 
Any action is social if Meaning attached to it by the actor (consciously performed, some motivation) 
Orientation towards others (physically or mentally present) 
 
Scope of Sociology 
Is to interpret meaning attached to the action by the actor 
Why study social Action  
To establish cause & effect 
How to Study  
Using Verstehen (literally means comprehending or understanding) 
 
Verstehen  
Highly influenced by methods used by Karl Jespers 
Involves certain steps Investigator should –  
• Reconstruct choices & constraints of actor  
• Come at same wavelength with the actor (terms of communication, appearance, behavior) 
• Have detached interest in the actor & his situation. Ensuring objectivity. 
• Then interact with the actor to understand meanings attached. 
 
It is the only method? 
No 
There could be other methods (like ideal types) 
Establishing plurality of causes 
 
Types of Social Action 
TAWZ 
 
Traditional  
Meanings drawn by the actor from the beliefs or traditions in the society 
Affective  
Meaning comes from emotions, in a particular situation Individual consciousness is least (Fear, hatred, 
love, anger) 
 
Wert Rational  
(or value Rational) A rational action Ends are “value” driven, i.e., valued by society. Means are rational 
(Helping a poor with money, saving a drowing man) 
Zweck Rational  
(or End Rational) Ends are rational as well (Means too) Based on individual’s own needs & motivations. 
(Preparing hard for exam) 
 
Actual Action 
A mix of all these (like a color is a mix of basic colors R G B) 
 
Ideal Types 
Not a new method Used to comprehend reality, whether natural or social 
Weber  
In sociology, social realities can be understood through ideal types 
 
What are they? 
“abstractions employed to understand complexity of social world” 
Involves identifying abstract elements (Elements can be indefinite but have to found by a trained 
investigator) 
 
Characteristics of Ideal types 
Contain specific traits 
These traits represent partial reality only (not total reality) 
Traits may not be visible (but identified analytically)  
Ideal types are logical constructs, act as measuring rods.  
Be used as a device, not as a reality. 
 
Ideal type of Authority 
 
Weber  
“Legitimate power is authority” “It is the capacity to implement one’s decision irrespective of the 
will of others” Its ideal type contains 3 elements, based on 3 sources of legitimate power 
 
3 sources of Legitimate Power  
Traditional Authority  
Derived from beliefs & traditions & values (Eg. Authority of a priest, elderly) 
 
Charismatic Authority  
From some quality of individual (Eg. : intelligence, beauty, communication skills, etc). 
 
Rational Legal  
From some rational means generally has authority of law (Eg. Bureaucrats, politicians, ministers) 
 
Actual  
Mix of all 
Weber used Ideal types for 3 things 
 
Abstract Elements 
like social action, authority etc.  
 
Particular type of behavior  
Economics, Political, Religious 
Historical Phenomenons  
Protestant ethics, Historical cities 
 
Protestant Ethics & Spirit of Capitalism 
Weber’s observation  
In modern Europe, majority capitalists were protestant Is there any collection? 
He checked it using the technique of ideal types 
 
Ideal Type of Protestant Ethics  
It is called Calvinism Given by John Calvin  
It’s tenets are  
 
Own Glory  
God created world for own glory, no priest can mediate 
 
Doctrine of Predestination 
People already chosen for heaven 
Asceticism This worldly  
 
Asceticism 
Self discipline to receive glory of god 
 
Notion of Calling  
All work sacred To be done with devotion 
 
Ideal Type of Capitalism 
Differentiated between modern & traditional capitalism Modern is Rationally organized 
Wealth  
Not for enjoyment but for creating more wealth 
Individualism  
Leads to hardwork & innovation 
Profit  
Unlimited accumulation of profits by rational org. of work 
Ethics  
Time is money. Work is worship. Worker means to an end 
 
Comparing the 2 Ideal types 
Weber found Elective affinity 
Elements of P.E. had strong tendency to support capitalism 
 
  
Page 5


MAX WEBER 
Syllabus 
? Social action  
? Ideal types  
? Authority  
? Bureaucracy  
? Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism 
Founding father Bridged gap between positivists & anti–positivists.  
Sociology A science which attempts at interpretative understanding of social action (in order to 
arrive at an explanation of cause & its effect) 
Subject matter drawn from idealists (i.e., interpretive understanding of social action) and 
Methodology drawn from positivists (i.e., trying to ascertain cause & effect) 
 
Why such a choice for subject matter? 
Influenced by Kantian epistemology 
What is Kantian epistemology  
That individual has consciousness & cannot be treated like matter 
Actors have individual consciousness, voluntary will  
Socio shall try to understand this 
 
And then Why such a Methodology? 
19th century Europe obsessed with scientific methods (focusing on observations, objectivity, 
testability) 
For him, science was a vocation & scientific methods its core 
Rejected methods of natural sciences 
Proposed his own scientific methods (which conformed to ideals of science).  
Like  
Ideal Types  
Causal Pluralism  
Comparative Analysis 
Social Action 
Book: Methodology of Social Sciences 
Any action is social if Meaning attached to it by the actor (consciously performed, some motivation) 
Orientation towards others (physically or mentally present) 
 
Scope of Sociology 
Is to interpret meaning attached to the action by the actor 
Why study social Action  
To establish cause & effect 
How to Study  
Using Verstehen (literally means comprehending or understanding) 
 
Verstehen  
Highly influenced by methods used by Karl Jespers 
Involves certain steps Investigator should –  
• Reconstruct choices & constraints of actor  
• Come at same wavelength with the actor (terms of communication, appearance, behavior) 
• Have detached interest in the actor & his situation. Ensuring objectivity. 
• Then interact with the actor to understand meanings attached. 
 
It is the only method? 
No 
There could be other methods (like ideal types) 
Establishing plurality of causes 
 
Types of Social Action 
TAWZ 
 
Traditional  
Meanings drawn by the actor from the beliefs or traditions in the society 
Affective  
Meaning comes from emotions, in a particular situation Individual consciousness is least (Fear, hatred, 
love, anger) 
 
Wert Rational  
(or value Rational) A rational action Ends are “value” driven, i.e., valued by society. Means are rational 
(Helping a poor with money, saving a drowing man) 
Zweck Rational  
(or End Rational) Ends are rational as well (Means too) Based on individual’s own needs & motivations. 
(Preparing hard for exam) 
 
Actual Action 
A mix of all these (like a color is a mix of basic colors R G B) 
 
Ideal Types 
Not a new method Used to comprehend reality, whether natural or social 
Weber  
In sociology, social realities can be understood through ideal types 
 
What are they? 
“abstractions employed to understand complexity of social world” 
Involves identifying abstract elements (Elements can be indefinite but have to found by a trained 
investigator) 
 
Characteristics of Ideal types 
Contain specific traits 
These traits represent partial reality only (not total reality) 
Traits may not be visible (but identified analytically)  
Ideal types are logical constructs, act as measuring rods.  
Be used as a device, not as a reality. 
 
Ideal type of Authority 
 
Weber  
“Legitimate power is authority” “It is the capacity to implement one’s decision irrespective of the 
will of others” Its ideal type contains 3 elements, based on 3 sources of legitimate power 
 
3 sources of Legitimate Power  
Traditional Authority  
Derived from beliefs & traditions & values (Eg. Authority of a priest, elderly) 
 
Charismatic Authority  
From some quality of individual (Eg. : intelligence, beauty, communication skills, etc). 
 
Rational Legal  
From some rational means generally has authority of law (Eg. Bureaucrats, politicians, ministers) 
 
Actual  
Mix of all 
Weber used Ideal types for 3 things 
 
Abstract Elements 
like social action, authority etc.  
 
Particular type of behavior  
Economics, Political, Religious 
Historical Phenomenons  
Protestant ethics, Historical cities 
 
Protestant Ethics & Spirit of Capitalism 
Weber’s observation  
In modern Europe, majority capitalists were protestant Is there any collection? 
He checked it using the technique of ideal types 
 
Ideal Type of Protestant Ethics  
It is called Calvinism Given by John Calvin  
It’s tenets are  
 
Own Glory  
God created world for own glory, no priest can mediate 
 
Doctrine of Predestination 
People already chosen for heaven 
Asceticism This worldly  
 
Asceticism 
Self discipline to receive glory of god 
 
Notion of Calling  
All work sacred To be done with devotion 
 
Ideal Type of Capitalism 
Differentiated between modern & traditional capitalism Modern is Rationally organized 
Wealth  
Not for enjoyment but for creating more wealth 
Individualism  
Leads to hardwork & innovation 
Profit  
Unlimited accumulation of profits by rational org. of work 
Ethics  
Time is money. Work is worship. Worker means to an end 
 
Comparing the 2 Ideal types 
Weber found Elective affinity 
Elements of P.E. had strong tendency to support capitalism 
 
  
Comparing the two Ideal Types  
 
Predestination  
Led to tension 
 
Asceticism  
Re-investment  
Individualism 
 
Notion of Calling  
Work is worship 
 
Greater Profit &Wealth  
Meant chosen