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He maintained a pessimistic approach, which regarded capitalism as merely trying to remain flexible in the face of conflict. In Weber's opinion, people would prefer to give rather than receive orders. Their main interest was prestige. Conflict was inherent in competition for scarce resources (Elwell).
Among Weber's major works were "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism," published in 1904, and "Sociology of the State," published in 1956 (Elwell 2003). In these works, he expressed the belief that rational action within a system of rational-legal authority was at the heart of modern society. His primary objective was to explore and explain the shift from traditional to rational action. He examined the religions and economic systems of civilizations. His study brought him to the realization that action could be rationalized only by abandoning the traditional ways of life. He felt that his task was to discover the forces in the West, which made people to abandon their traditional religious value orientation and opt for the desire to acquire goods and wealth. His study led him to believe that the Protestants strayed from tradition while encouraging people to bind themselves rationally to their work. The Protestant ethic provided religious sanctions for rigorous discipline and encouraged people to work rationally in order to acquire wealth. He also studied non-Western cultures and found that many of pre-industrial...
Capitalism, however, failed to emerge in these societies. Only the abandonment of traditional ways was not sanctioned positively (Elwell).
Weber reflected fundamental contradictions of European social thought and the then emerging discipline of sociology (Elwell 2005). His main tension was the opposition between Marx and Durkheim, which was whether human action should be interpreted according to human ideals and motives or in terms of interests, constraints and power. Weber's theory of action was an attempt to merge and consolidate the analysis of both ideal and material motives (Elwell).
Bibliography
Elwell, F.W. (2005). The classical tradition: Malthus, Marx, Weber and Durkheim. Roger State University, Colorado Paradigm Publishers
Jones, R. (2003). Introduction to sociological theories. Polity.co.uk, American International Distribution. Retrieved March 13, 2007 at http://www.polity.co.uk/jones/pdf/chap1.pdf
Knapp, P. (2007). Theory greats. Villanova.edu, Villanova University
Lambert, L. (1998). Social Theory. Sociology: UTSA Style, University of Texas San Antonio
O'Connor, T (2006). Conflict criminology. Megalinks in Criminal Justice, Austin Peay State University. Retrieved March 13, 2007 at http://www.apsu.edu/oconnor/crim/crimtheory15.htm
Bibliography
Elwell, F.W. (2005). The classical tradition: Malthus, Marx, Weber and Durkheim. Roger State University, Colorado Paradigm Publishers
Jones, R. (2003). Introduction to sociological theories. Polity.co.uk, American International Distribution. Retrieved March 13, 2007 at http://www.polity.co.uk/jones/pdf/chap1.pdf
Knapp, P. (2007). Theory greats. Villanova.edu, Villanova University
Lambert, L. (1998). Social Theory. Sociology: UTSA Style, University of Texas San Antonio
O'Connor, T (2006). Conflict criminology. Megalinks in Criminal Justice, Austin Peay State University. Retrieved March 13, 2007 at http://www.apsu.edu/oconnor/crim/crimtheory15.htm
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