Max Weber and Symbolic Interactionism Show
Cubicles are used to maximize individual workspace in an office. Such structures may be rational, but they are also isolating. (Photo courtesy of Tim Patterson/flickr) The Protestant Work EthicIn a series of essays in 1904, Max Weber presented the idea of the Protestant work ethic, a new attitude toward work based on the Calvinist principle of predestination. In the sixteenth century, Europe was shaken by the Protestant Revolution. Religious leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin argued against the Catholic Church’s belief in salvation through obedience. While Catholic leaders emphasized the importance of religious dogma and performing good deeds as a gateway to Heaven, Protestants believed that inner grace, or faith in God, was enough to achieve salvation. John Calvin in particular popularized the Christian concept of predestination, the idea that all events—including salvation—have already been decided by God. Because followers were never sure whether they had been chosen to enter Heaven or Hell, they looked for signs in their everyday lives. If a person was hard-working and successful, he was likely to be one of the chosen. If a person was lazy or simply indifferent, he was likely to be one of the damned. Weber argued that this mentality encouraged people to work hard for personal gain; after all, why should one help the unfortunate if they were already damned? Over time, the Protestant work ethic spread and became the foundation for capitalism. Further ResearchClick on the image below to visit BBC’s History of Ideas website to watch a video about Max Weber and the Protestant work ethic. Think It OverUse Weber’s argument to explain a recent or current social event such as the Occupy movement. Does his theory hold up under modern scrutiny? Practice1. The Protestant work ethic is based on the concept of predestination, which states that ________.
2. The concept of the iron cage was popularized by which of the following sociological thinkers?
Self-Check: Theoretical Perspectives on Culture and SocietyYou’ll have more success on the Self-Check, if you’ve completed the four Readings, and the videos in this section. What does Max Weber mean when he says that modern people are trapped in an iron cage quizlet?Terms in this set (10)
What does Max weber mean when he says that modern people are trapped in an "iron cage"? Most aspects of life are increasingly controlled through rigid rules and rationalization. Max weber believed that, as the industrial revolution progressed, society became increasingly rationalized.
What did Max Weber believe quizlet?Weber believed that sociologists, unlike natural scientists, had the ability to understand social phenomena, and that this understanding achieved through systematic and rigorous research and rational procedure of study was verstehen.
Why did Max Weber fear bureaucracy?While Weber praises bureaucracies for their efficiency and predictability, he feared that people would become too controlled by them. Weber does not appear to focus on the forces of freedom and equality that can come from bureaucracy.
What did Weber have to say about rationalization in the modern world quizlet?Weber termed this substantive rationality and considered it problematic in modern society in that rationalization of social life makes it difficult for people to pursue particular values.
|