Lesson 2 Part 3: Max Weber

• Traditional worldview


  • Sentiments and beliefs passed from generation to generation
  • People are guided by the past; they consider particular actions right and proper solely because they have been accepted for so long
• Traditional worldview


  • The idea of "indulgence" Hazing - Fraternities, Sororities, Organizations
• Rational worldview


  • A way of thinking that emphasizes deliberate, matter-of-fact calculation of the most efficient means to accomplish a particular task
  • Sentiments has no place in a rational worldview, which treats tradition simply as one kind of information
• Rational worldview


  • Modern people choose to think and act on the basis of present and future consequences – evaluating jobs, schooling, and even romantic relationships
• Rationalization of society


  • The historic change from tradition to rationality as the dominant mode of human thought
  • Modern society has been "disenchanted" (before we explained things through magic) as scientific thinking and technology have swept away sentimental ties to the past
• Marx's view on capitalism

  Irrational because it fails to meet the most basic needs of most people
• Weber's view on capitalism

  Yes! Industrial capitalism is the essence of rationality since capitalists pursue profit in whatever ways they can (only rational for the capitalists)
• Calvinism


  • A Christian religious movement that arose from the Protestant Reformation
  • Calvinists approached life in a highly disciplined and rational way
• Predestination


  • Religious doctrine of Calvinists
  • The idea that an all-knowing and all-powerful God has predestined some people for salvation and others for damnation
  • With everyone's fate set before birth, Calvinists believed that they could do nothing to change their destiny; thus, some were hopeful of spiritual salvation while others feared eternal damnation
• Wealthy Calvinists


  • Accepted by God
  • Splurging/Spending = sinful
• Poor Calvinists


  • Sign of rejection by God
  • Calvinists did not share their wealth w/ others because it increases their chances for salvation
• Investing and reinvesting their profits = more success = acceptance by God
• Calvinist thinking built the foundation of capitalism, using the wealth to create more wealth, saving money and eagerly accepting new technology
• Later generations of Calvinists were less religious, their success seeking and personal disciplined remained, and their RELIGIOUS ETHIC became their WORK ETHIC
• Capitalism disenchanted religion, with wealth being valued for its own sake
• Accounting


  • Early Calvinists kept a daily record of moral deeds, while later generations of Calvinists account to keep track of money
• Disenchantment


  The character of modernized, bureaucratic, secularized Western society, where scientific understanding is more highly valued than belief, and where processes are oriented toward rational goals, as opposed to traditional society where for Weber "the world remains a great enchanted garden
• Rationalization of industrial societies

  The search by the people for the OPTIMUM (most efficient) means to a given end is shaped by rules, regulations, and larger social structures
• Bureaucracy


  • An organizational structure that is characterized by many rules, standardized processes, procedures and requirements, number of desks, meticulous division of labor and responsibility, clear hierarchies and professional, almost impersonal interactions between employees
  • An organizational model rationally designed to perform tasks EFFICIENTLY
• Bureaucracy


  • There are millions of phones in the Philippines. People can call each other within seconds because of the organizational ability of the company to take track of every phone call
• Although medieval church grew large, it is traditional and resisted change; therefore, it was only during the industrial revolution when rational organizations that are EFFICIENT and OPEN TO CHANGE appeared
• Elements of the ideal bureaucratic organization

  • Specialization
  • Hierarchy of offices
  • Rules and regulations
  • Technical competence
  • Impersonality
  • Formal, written communications
• According to Weber, bureaucracy is highly rational because its elements – offices, duties, and policies – help achieve specific goals as efficiently as possible
• Weber concluded that the defining elements of modern society: CAPITALISM, BUREAUCRACY, and SCIENCE, are all expressions of RATIONALITY
• Alienation


  • (Marx) Caused by ECONOMIC INEQUALITY (Bourgeoisie vs Proletariat)
  • (Weber) Caused by the stifling effect of bureaucracy's countless rules and regulations
• Iron cage


  • Bureaucracy treats people as a series of cases rather than unique individuals
  • Working for large organizations demands highly specialized and often tedious routines
  • Modern society is a vast and growing system of rules seeking to regulate everything and thereby crush the human spirit; rationalization will reduce human beings to robots
• According to Weber, once a bureaucratic system is established in society, it can never be removed and replaced
• Ray of hope


  Bureaucrats, people in the academe, researchers, scientists… will be able to figure ways to battle the iron cage of bureaucracy
• Ray of hope


  • Companies with play station, lounge, sleeping chambers, required days off, service incentive leave, health cards, gym card
• In reality, there is no solution. They can only battle but cannot remove bureaucracy
• Key concepts


  • The Protestant Ethic developed the necessary people to man Capitalism. Capitalism is the UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES of CALVINISM.
  • The Rationalization process was influenced by PESC (Protestant of Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism). Anak ang bureaucracy
  • However, with the establishment of these is the existence of IRON CAGE (individual without freedom).
  • A little way to combat this is the Ray of Hope. New breed of intellectuals and scientism that would break away from bureaucracy and highlight individual freedom.