Weber

1
Weber Methods 1

• The Two Sociologies structuralism
  individualism
• Marx Durkheim vs. Weber
• Sociology as the science of social action
• Social science Natural science
• Values Social Science
• The roles of the Social Scientist

2
Themes

• Human autonomy
• The distinctiveness of social reality
• Moral Responsibility

3
Structuralism

• Any doctrine stating that analysis should be
• concerned with exploring beneath surface
• appearances in order to reach the deeper,
• ultimately more real, structures seen as
• determining social relations e.g. Marxism
• Source Jary, D Jary, J Collins Dictionary of
  Sociology Glasgow HarperCollins

4
Individualism

• I became a sociologist in order to put an end to
• Collectivist notions. In other words
  ..sociology. can
• only be practised by proceeding from the action
  of one
• or more.individuals. That means by employing a
• strictly individualist methodcollectivities
  must be
• treated as solely the resultants and modes of
• organization of the particular acts of individual
  persons
• Source Weber Economy and Society

5
Action

• In action is included all human behaviour when
  and insofar as the acting individual attaches a
  subjective meaning to it.Action is social
  insofar as, by virtue of the subjective meaning
  attached to it by the acting individual (or
  individuals), it takes account of the behaviour
  of others and is thereby oriented in its course.
• Source Weber, The theory of social and economic
  organisation p.88

6
Interpretative Sociology

• A variety of forms of sociology united by an
  emphasis on the necessity for sociologists to
  grasp (i.e. to understand) or interpret
  actors meanings
• Source Jary, D Jary, J Collins Dictionary of
  Sociology Glasgow HarperCollins

7
Neo-Kantianism

• A revival of the 18 th century philosopher Kants
  thought in
• late 19th century Germany. This asserted that
  categories of
• thought (re ideal types, next lecture) organise
  or constitute
• our experiences. In relation to the social
  sciences neo-
• Kantians argued that values constituted social
  and cultural
• reality. Therefore sciences in these fields
  required a
• methodology different from that of the
  value-neutral
• natural sciences.
• Source Me

8
Social Science Methods

• Nomothetic Methods The means of studying
  regularly occurring events with the intention of
  generating law-like statements e.g. Marx,
  Durkheim
• Idiographic Methods The means of studying
  uniquely occurring events in order to show their
  peculiar distinctiveness e.g. Weber
• Source Me

9
Verstehende Soziologie

• German word for understanding in
  English-speaking sociology the term usually
  refers to meaningful understanding, the procedure
  in which both social actors and sociologists
  interpret and gain access to the meanings of
  others
• Source Jary, D Jary, J Collins Dictionary of
  Sociology Glasgow HarperCollins (emphasis added)

10
Values and Sociology Value-Relevance

• Value-Relevance the idea in Weber that the
• topic and application of sociological research
• should be directed by the researchers ideas of
• what is worthwhile (re sociologist as citizen/
• public intellectual)

11
Values and Sociology Value-Freedom

• Value Freedom the idea in Weber that the
  conduct of research should be guided by the rules
  of evidence and that conclusions be reached on
  logical grounds alone (re sociologist as
  scientist)

12
Values and Sociology Value-Neutrality

• Value-Neutrality the idea in Weber that those
  who teach should not fuse the presentation of
  knowledge with their views on how that knowledge
  should affect public life (re sociologist as
  professional re Science as a Vocation)
• Lassman P (ed) Max Webers Science as a vocation