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7 - Max Weber

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 December 2020

By
Lawrence A. Scaff
Edited by
Peter Kivisto
Peter Kivisto
Affiliation:
Augustana College, Illinois
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Summary

Max Weber’s work explored two great themes from a universal comparative historical perspective: the relationship between economy and society, and the effects of religion on socioeconomic life. This chapter sets forth his theses and accomplishments in investigating these themes, particularly as related to the world of modern capitalism. In this context, it also considers his analyses of rationality, rationalization processes, authority or domination, and the nature of the scientific calling, as well as the enduring significance of the Weberian legacy.

Lawrence A. Scaff is Professor Emeritus of Political Science and Sociology at Wayne State University, Detroit. He is the author of Fleeing the Iron Cage (1989), Max Weber in America (2011), and Weber and the Weberians (2014), and coedited The Oxford Handbook of Max Weber (2019).

Keywords

AuthoritybureaucracycapitalismrationalityreligionWeberian inquiry
Type
Chapter
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The Cambridge Handbook of Social Theory , pp. 124 - 144
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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References

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  • Max Weber
  • Edited by Peter Kivisto, Augustana College, Illinois
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Social Theory
  • Online publication: 03 December 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316677445.008
Available formats
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  • Max Weber
  • Edited by Peter Kivisto, Augustana College, Illinois
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Social Theory
  • Online publication: 03 December 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316677445.008
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Max Weber
  • Edited by Peter Kivisto, Augustana College, Illinois
  • Book: The Cambridge Handbook of Social Theory
  • Online publication: 03 December 2020
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316677445.008
Available formats
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