Weber II Weber II (2/12)(2/12)

Weber’s Weber’s Protestant Ethic Protestant Ethic argumentargument

His religious sociology as a wholeHis religious sociology as a whole

Weber’s universal historyWeber’s universal history

The connection of Conflict and The connection of Conflict and Functional TheoryFunctional Theory

One of the main reasons Weber has been One of the main reasons Weber has been important is that many sociologists felt that he important is that many sociologists felt that he provided ways of integrating functional and provided ways of integrating functional and conflict theory.conflict theory.

Today we shallToday we shall1.1. Look at his religious analysis of Protestantism, Look at his religious analysis of Protestantism,

which has often been interpreted functionally.which has often been interpreted functionally.2.2. Look at the relation between that and his Look at the relation between that and his

model of the role of Christianity in the model of the role of Christianity in the development of modernity as a whole.development of modernity as a whole.

3.3. Look at a feedback representation of some of Look at a feedback representation of some of the dynamics.the dynamics.

The Protestant Ethic and the The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of CapitalismSpirit of Capitalism

Became the focus of the functionalist Became the focus of the functionalist interpretation of Weber.interpretation of Weber.

Parsons interpreted it as “outflanking Marx”Parsons interpreted it as “outflanking Marx” by showing the essential role of religious by showing the essential role of religious

values in generating capitalism.values in generating capitalism. Thus, it implied that the interpretation of Thus, it implied that the interpretation of

basic norms and values is the basis of any basic norms and values is the basis of any adequate analysis of social structures.adequate analysis of social structures.

Protestant ethic valuesProtestant ethic values What makes entrepreneurs tick?What makes entrepreneurs tick? Why would someone with $ 1 million Why would someone with $ 1 million

work a 60 hour week, pinching every work a 60 hour week, pinching every penny, and spending nothing on penny, and spending nothing on themselves or those they care about?themselves or those they care about?

Why would someone work for the sake Why would someone work for the sake of working?of working?

Weber argued that part of the answer Weber argued that part of the answer lay in the psychology of the doctrine of lay in the psychology of the doctrine of predestination. predestination.

The popular (vulgar) Protestant The popular (vulgar) Protestant Ethic thesis:Ethic thesis:

Protestantism arose prior to capitalism.Protestantism arose prior to capitalism. It motivated people to accumulate capital It motivated people to accumulate capital

more effectively than Catholicism more effectively than Catholicism Salvation anxiety resulted from the idea Salvation anxiety resulted from the idea

that “that “Some are damned and some are Some are damned and some are elect, and there is nothing whatever elect, and there is nothing whatever you can do about ityou can do about it.” .”

Led to search for signs of salvation,Led to search for signs of salvation, Based on the view that the elect would Based on the view that the elect would

prosper.prosper.

Other Weber arguments:Other Weber arguments:

Though those arguments appear in Though those arguments appear in Weber they are combined with others.Weber they are combined with others.

One set is in his book-length essay on One set is in his book-length essay on “The Protestant Sects”“The Protestant Sects”

1.1. Sect structures exert more controls.Sect structures exert more controls.2.2. Predestination can justify poverty.Predestination can justify poverty.3.3. Class membership in the sects was Class membership in the sects was

bourgeois, and helped break up the bourgeois, and helped break up the aristocratic establishment.aristocratic establishment.

4.4. Protestantism accentuated the inner-Protestantism accentuated the inner-worldly asceticism of all of Christianity.worldly asceticism of all of Christianity.

1: sect structures1: sect structures

When someone is born into a religion, When someone is born into a religion, anyone can get in.anyone can get in.

When sects are in competition with When sects are in competition with each other, they can kick people out each other, they can kick people out more easily, more easily,

and they can serve as credit societiesand they can serve as credit societies The competing sects tended to drive The competing sects tended to drive

individual business success rather individual business success rather than “good works.”than “good works.”

2. The elect and the damned2. The elect and the damned

The view that God has The view that God has predetermined the elect and the predetermined the elect and the damned gave a justification for doing damned gave a justification for doing nothing for the poor.nothing for the poor.

They are predestined to misery and They are predestined to misery and of no concern to the elect.of no concern to the elect.

Spencer and Social Darwinism Spencer and Social Darwinism appealed to this sentiment.appealed to this sentiment.

3. The aristocratic establishment3. The aristocratic establishment

The medieval church had merged The medieval church had merged with aristocracy and monarchy.with aristocracy and monarchy.

Therefore the Reformation loosened Therefore the Reformation loosened the hold of that social, political, and the hold of that social, political, and ideological establishment.ideological establishment.

E.g. Merton: the role of Protestants in E.g. Merton: the role of Protestants in English science 1600-1800.English science 1600-1800.

4. Inner-worldly Asceticism in 4. Inner-worldly Asceticism in Weber’s Religious sociologyWeber’s Religious sociology

But Weber’s 5,000 pp., multi-volume study of But Weber’s 5,000 pp., multi-volume study of world religions mainly stressed the role of world religions mainly stressed the role of “inner-worldly asceticism” on the general “inner-worldly asceticism” on the general process rationalization.process rationalization.

Extension of corporate, bureaucratic Extension of corporate, bureaucratic structures into law, the economy, etc. always structures into law, the economy, etc. always runs into powerful resistance of kinship and runs into powerful resistance of kinship and tradition.tradition.

Religious structures can play a powerful role Religious structures can play a powerful role in breaking down that resistance.in breaking down that resistance.

But only if they close off two main ways that But only if they close off two main ways that religion can fail to change the world:religion can fail to change the world:

Two aspects of all religious Two aspects of all religious ethicsethics

Mysticism v. asceticism: A mystic tries to be the Mysticism v. asceticism: A mystic tries to be the container of a sacred feeling; the ascetic tries to container of a sacred feeling; the ascetic tries to systematically carry out God’s instructions. systematically carry out God’s instructions. Mysticism can accommodate to the world.Mysticism can accommodate to the world.

Inner-worldly v. otherworldly ethics: A worldly (or Inner-worldly v. otherworldly ethics: A worldly (or inner-worldly) religion is concerned with action in inner-worldly) religion is concerned with action in worldly structures (family, jobs, politics). An worldly structures (family, jobs, politics). An other-worldly ethic calls people to abandon those other-worldly ethic calls people to abandon those structures for God.structures for God.

Inner-worldly asceticism is most effective at Inner-worldly asceticism is most effective at breaking down premodern elements of kinship breaking down premodern elements of kinship and magic.and magic.

Weber’s typology of World ReligionsWeber’s typology of World Religions The different world religions had different The different world religions had different

amounts of inner-worldly asceticism.amounts of inner-worldly asceticism. Christianity had more; Protestantism had Christianity had more; Protestantism had

most.most.

Inner-Inner-worldlyworldly

Other-Other-worldlyworldly

AsceticAscetic ChristianityChristianity IndiaIndia

MysticMystic ChinaChina

Limitations of Weber’s Limitations of Weber’s Interpretive sociologyInterpretive sociology

Culture always reinforces and is Culture always reinforces and is reinforced by social structure in many reinforced by social structure in many ways.ways.

Measurement of such meaning Measurement of such meaning structures is difficult.structures is difficult.

The amount of causal impact is hard The amount of causal impact is hard to judge, to judge,

and it may be more useful to integrate and it may be more useful to integrate functional and conflict theory in terms functional and conflict theory in terms of feedbacks.of feedbacks.

Measures of religious ethics in the Measures of religious ethics in the General Social SurveyGeneral Social Survey

Greeley has included a number of Greeley has included a number of batteries of questions on respondent’s batteries of questions on respondent’s basic view of God and of the world.basic view of God and of the world.

i.e. is God more like a father or a mother; i.e. is God more like a father or a mother; a lover or a king;…a lover or a king;…

How strongly they correlate with other How strongly they correlate with other actions behaviors and beliefs is an actions behaviors and beliefs is an empirical question.empirical question.

Why the associations that exist are there Why the associations that exist are there is under theoretical dispute.is under theoretical dispute.

Weber’s general universal historyWeber’s general universal history

4 intermediate conditions of rationalization, unique to the West, generate the basis of rational capitalism.

The Bureaucratic stateThe Bureaucratic state

Only in the West did the political Only in the West did the political structure take the form of a structure take the form of a formalized bureaucratic nation state.formalized bureaucratic nation state.

Above all, the set of rules can be Above all, the set of rules can be changed; but until it is changed it is changed; but until it is changed it is predictable.predictable.

Thus, the rational capitalist operates Thus, the rational capitalist operates within a relatively predictable within a relatively predictable environment.environment.

A government of lawA government of law

The formal rationality of the law, The formal rationality of the law, based on the supervision of courts by based on the supervision of courts by other courts,other courts,

allows the application of legal allows the application of legal principles, indefinitely developed in a principles, indefinitely developed in a way that is self-consistent,way that is self-consistent,

To unique new cases.To unique new cases. Weber argues that formal law is Weber argues that formal law is

unique to the West.unique to the West.

CitizenshipCitizenship

The complex process of the The complex process of the expansion of citizenship,expansion of citizenship,

over the course of 20 centuries,over the course of 20 centuries, Led to a wide conception of civil Led to a wide conception of civil

rights by the 18rights by the 18thth c. c. And to expansion of the franchise in And to expansion of the franchise in

the 19the 19thth and 20 and 20thth c. c. Weber’s political sociology tracks this Weber’s political sociology tracks this

process. process.

A Non-dualistic ethic: UniversalismA Non-dualistic ethic: Universalism

From Saul’s conversion on the road From Saul’s conversion on the road to Tarsus, to the development of to Tarsus, to the development of Christianity as a world religion,Christianity as a world religion,

Weber argues that Christianity could Weber argues that Christianity could take the prophetic tradition of take the prophetic tradition of JudaismJudaism

and develop it in terms of universal and develop it in terms of universal human dignity and brotherhood.human dignity and brotherhood.

A Eurocentric Analysis?A Eurocentric Analysis?

Weber believed that these four Weber believed that these four institutional complexes or institutional complexes or rationalization, in the West thenrationalization, in the West then

transformed the world.transformed the world. They created the basis of a kind of They created the basis of a kind of

universalism that was not possible universalism that was not possible prior to these developments.prior to these developments.

But they also are the basis of a But they also are the basis of a coercive and constraining iron cage.coercive and constraining iron cage.

Feedbacks: the 21Feedbacks: the 21stst c. sociology c. sociology ““What goes around comes around.”What goes around comes around.” As the effects of any change As the effects of any change

proliferate, logically, they must proliferate, logically, they must have one of three consequences:have one of three consequences:

1) they ultimately reinforce the 1) they ultimately reinforce the original change: positive feedback.original change: positive feedback.

2) they ultimately undermine the 2) they ultimately undermine the original change: negative feedback.original change: negative feedback.

3) they have inconsistent effects. 3) they have inconsistent effects.

Meanings, power and feedbacksMeanings, power and feedbacks

All meaning systems and organizational All meaning systems and organizational systems involve both control structures systems involve both control structures (negative feedbacks) and accumulation (negative feedbacks) and accumulation dynamics (positive feedbacks.)dynamics (positive feedbacks.)

This is one of the reason that interpretive This is one of the reason that interpretive sociologists and symbolic interactionists sociologists and symbolic interactionists have been skeptical of empirical research have been skeptical of empirical research based on a one-way effect of independent based on a one-way effect of independent variables on dependent variables.variables on dependent variables.

Positive feedbacks (review)Positive feedbacks (review) Positive feedbacks generate an amplifying, Positive feedbacks generate an amplifying,

self-reinforcing dynamic.self-reinforcing dynamic. Because they are self-reinforcing, they Because they are self-reinforcing, they

create alienated dynamics that tend to create alienated dynamics that tend to “take on a life of their own.”“take on a life of their own.”

Such systems are unstable or chaotic.Such systems are unstable or chaotic. Structures of inequality, such as the death Structures of inequality, such as the death

of Native Americans or the game of of Native Americans or the game of Monopoly, illustrate such dynamics.Monopoly, illustrate such dynamics.

Weber’s analysis of institutional power was Weber’s analysis of institutional power was the basis of non-Marxist conflict theories.the basis of non-Marxist conflict theories.

Resources e.g. $Access to more Resources e.g. making the rules

+

+

Negative feedbacks (control Negative feedbacks (control systems)systems)

Negative feedback results when a change Negative feedback results when a change produces consequences that reduce the produces consequences that reduce the original change.original change.

Such systems are often called Such systems are often called “homeostatic”“homeostatic”

For example, in the body, and increase in For example, in the body, and increase in temperature, blood sugar, arousal, etc. temperature, blood sugar, arousal, etc. triggers processes that tend to restore the triggers processes that tend to restore the original level.original level.

The classic example: a The classic example: a thermostatthermostat

A thermostat operates to cut off the A thermostat operates to cut off the furnace when the temperature rises. furnace when the temperature rises.

Thus a rise in temperature triggers a Thus a rise in temperature triggers a process that causes a fall in the process that causes a fall in the temperature,temperature,

and a fall in the temperature triggers and a fall in the temperature triggers a process that causes a rise. a process that causes a rise.

temperature

++Cut off of furnace

-

Sociological examples: normsSociological examples: norms

Durkheim argued that norms are Durkheim argued that norms are maintained by the response to maintained by the response to their violation.their violation.

Negative sanctions (punishment) of Negative sanctions (punishment) of those who violate norms, reinforces those who violate norms, reinforces the norms for everyone else.the norms for everyone else.

Parsons made the functional Parsons made the functional performance or roles, subject to performance or roles, subject to normative expectations, the basis normative expectations, the basis of structural-functionalism.of structural-functionalism.

A representation of Negative A representation of Negative feedback:feedback:

Norm

violation

Negativesanctions

+

--

Any self-maintaining system involves negative feedbacks

Eg. Crime and punishment, role expectations and role-partner responses, vested interests.

Social systems as control Social systems as control systemssystems

Talcott Parsons argued that all social Talcott Parsons argued that all social behavior is guided by norms and values.behavior is guided by norms and values.

Thus the social system is a self-Thus the social system is a self-maintaining control system.maintaining control system.

He called this analysis of social He called this analysis of social structures as performing functions structures as performing functions guided by norms “structural guided by norms “structural functionalism”functionalism”

It was dominant in US sociology from It was dominant in US sociology from 1945 to 1965.1945 to 1965.

Problems of the analysis of Problems of the analysis of feedback systemsfeedback systems

Where there are no feedbacks, it is Where there are no feedbacks, it is possible to estimate the causal possible to estimate the causal influence of one variable on another by influence of one variable on another by seeing how closely they are associated.seeing how closely they are associated.

Feedbacks require a different and more Feedbacks require a different and more difficult analysis.difficult analysis.

There are many forms of systems There are many forms of systems theory, and many of them are not theory, and many of them are not empirical.empirical.

Parsons analysis was usually not Parsons analysis was usually not empirical.empirical.

The promise of feedback analysisThe promise of feedback analysis Nevertheless, many of the most Nevertheless, many of the most

important dynamic processes in important dynamic processes in sociology involve feedbacks.sociology involve feedbacks.

In general, conflict theories are based on In general, conflict theories are based on positive feedback systemspositive feedback systems

Functionalists stress negative feedback Functionalists stress negative feedback systems.systems.

There has been a rapid growth of There has been a rapid growth of complex systems dynamics in the 21complex systems dynamics in the 21stst c c

Empirical analysis of such systems is Empirical analysis of such systems is one of the main tasks of 21st c one of the main tasks of 21st c sociology.sociology.