M3: Weber Flashcards
(51 cards)
What is Weber’s solution to the problem of method
- verstehen
- he rejects naturalism
What should sociology study?
- It should study what is unique to humans
- subjective meanings individuals attach to their own behaviour in everyday life
What does Weber mean by subjective?
-subjective means the meaning to the actor
How do we understand subjective meaning?
-by studying the intentions, purposes, motives of acting individuals
What does Weber argue about the natural sciences vs. the social sciences?
- they have different subject matter
- generate different kinds of knowledge
What subject matter do the natural and social sciences deal with?
- physical or natural events and objects
- human action, where action is defined in terms of subjective meaning
- sociology studies social action
What type of knowledge do the natural and social sciences generate?
Natural: -universal, unalterable laws of nature Social sciences: -historical products Regardless, according to Weber sociology is a science
What three things does Weber accept all sciences involve?
- search for truth
- verification of knowledge through observation
- objectivity
What is a problem with Weber’s own argument that sociology is a science and what solution does Weber provide?
- problem of objectivity
- value-free sociology is his solution
If Weber wants value-free sociology how does he select a sociological concept?
-he allows for values to enter into the selection process
In what way does Weber believe sociology to be a science?
-sociology can use the procedures of natural sciences and produce causal explanations
When Weber says, “interpretive understanding of social action,” what does he mean by interpretive understanding?
-he is saying that verstehen is the solution to the problem of method
How do sociologists arrive at an interpretive understanding of social action?
-they have to use techniques of interpretation that are replicable and verifiable
Two methods:
-direct understanding
-explanatory understanding
What is a direct (observational) understanding?
- understand the meaning of an action through direct observation
- 2 x 2 =4 and ones facial expressions to deduce their angry
What is an explanatory understanding?
- identify a motivational link between the observed activity and the meaning to the actor through understanding motives, intentions and purposes of actor
- type of causal explanation
What is the criteria for adequate causal explanation?
- subjective adequacy
- causal adequacy
What is subjective adequacy?
- adequate on the level of meaning
- subjective meaning is explained in terms of the meaning assigned by the actor
- criterion is conformity to habitual modes of thought and feelings
What is causal adequacy?
- criterion for this is predicting from knowledge and experience that something will follow something else in society (this is the same as Durkheim)
- “somethings” means meaningful actions (Weber’s twist)
Why does Weber use both subjective and causal adequacy as criteria for an adequate causal explanation?
He is trying to integrate two contradictory views of the nature of social sciences:
- anti-naturalists demand for interpretive understanding of subjective meaning
- naturalist demand for causal explanation
What is Weber’s solution to the problem of agency?
- micro-macro linkage
- “there is no such thing as a collective personality that acts…collectivities must be treated solely as the resultants and modes of organization of the particular acts of particular persons.”
Can macro extremism go with verstehen?
No
What is the point of the book the protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism?
- sets out Weber’s explanation of the origins of modern capitalism which differ from Marx’s explanation
- ask the question: why did modern capitalism emerge in Western Europe rather than in one of the other great civilizations?
What are ideal types?
- methodological tools for the scientific study of human societies
- analytical concepts constructed by social scientists to capture essential features of a social phenomenon
- one sided exaggerations of what goes on in the real world
What are ideals types useful for?
-useful in empirical research
