Max Weber biography (1864 -1920)

Max Weber is one of the most popular names within the field of social sciences. One of the parents of modern sociology with other key figures such as Karl Marx or Émile Durkheim and whose influence continues to be preserved to this day, thanks to a legacy that changed the course of this science.

Content

• First years of Max Weber
• Beginning of your interest in sociology
• Max Weber's work and legacy
  • 1. The Union of Culture, Religion and Economics
  • 2. The Bases of Maintenance of Authority
  • 3. The iron box
  • 4. Social classes
  • Bibliography
    • Links of interest

First years of Max Weber

Max Weber was born in Prussia (Germany), in 1864. Being the eldest of seven brothers, Weber grew surrounded by outstanding politicians and academics who went to their home through their father's mediation, Liberal politician member of the House of Deputies of Prussia and Reichtag. His mother, however, of Orthodox ideology, was distanced from the activities of the husband, who under strict authority imposed obedience to his mandates, which caused family conflicts that influenced Max Weber's adult life.

In 1882, The future sociologist began his studies at Heidelberg University, Although shortly after the military service in Strassburg had to fulfill, where Weber lived an intellectual approach with his maternal uncles, Ida and Hermann Baumgarten, the latter historian who was of great influence on the development of Max Weber.

Subsequently, his father called him to live in Berlin, a city where he would study his career of laws and economy, doctorate in law in 1889 with the thesis entitled: “The history of commercial associations in the Middle Ages”. This work had great influence on many other studies on trade during the Middle Ages. Later, Weber joined the University of Berlin, an institution where he began to give lectures and advice to the government. At this time, Weber marries Marianne Schnitger, a recognized feminist sociologist and activist who later wrote the biography of Weber himself.

Beginning of your interest in sociology

During the years of his thesis and after this, Weber was interested in contemporary social policy by getting involved in different groups that sought the resolution of the social problems of the time. Following your Implication investigating the social problems of Poles Weber was eminently considered a social scientist.

As of 1904, their most important works begin to be published such as "Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism", although It was after his death when his figure rose to the popularity that is conferred today. Already in World War. Shortly after, in 1920, Weber dies following pneumonia in the city of Munich, at 56.

Max Weber's work and legacy

Weber's figure links an extensive bibliography, since despite his short life his work was proliferated and abundant, and left fundamental theories for the basis of current sociology. Thus, we rescue as a summary some of their most important theoretical contributions.

1. The Union of Culture, Religion and Economics

Max Weber, who was considered democratic-liberal, studied in his work "Protestant ethics and the spirit of capitalism", Religion as the main influence of the development of cultures and economies. Weber related concepts such as capitalism and religion in their investigations, as a consequence of each other, maintaining that Protestant religions, for example, considered work as a call from God, an obligation. This together with the austere values ​​that proclaimed, achieved that a wealth in charge of exploited labor that promoted the foundations of capitalism, economic current that was subsequently released from religious doctrine and that prevails in our day in our day.

2. The Bases of Maintenance of Authority

According to its bureaucratic theory, bureaucracy is the basis for the systematic formation of organizations, and must be designed to guarantee economic efficiency and efficiency. So, Weber studies bureaucracy as the basis for the exercise of power, a power justified by legitimacy and administrative organization. The division of labor and administration, the authoritarian hierarchy, the legality of the norms and rationality and depersonalization of the official are the main features of the bureaucracy that maintains the system of power.

3. The iron box

According to Weber, the economy and technology that arises from capitalist productions had become fundamental social forces. This creates a society that Weber identifies as an "iron cage" from which it is difficult to go out for those who have been born in it, whose freedom is listed by this system, due to the social and hierarchical structure that molds individuals. For Weber, Marxist class struggle was not priority, but rationalization: The ordering and systematization as a form of social control, which is embodied in the work "Economy and Society".

4. Social classes

For Weber, social classes were more than economic classes. This contemplated factors such as the place of birth, culture, educational level or religion, To study human behavior, considering that a person's position in society goes beyond the economic class or the money he possesses. In addition, he considered that the sociologist should depart from society to analyze these factors without their conclusions being biased by their own prejudices or roles within society.

So that, Weber for the first time related social factors that interacted among them as a culture, economy and religion, To be able to analyze the general society and the individual within a historical context, laying the foundations and foundations for the development of modern sociological science.

Bibliography

• Weber, m. (1904-1905). Protestant ethics and the spirit of capitalism. Editorial Alliance.
• Weber, m. (1919). Policy as a vocation. Editorial Alliance.
• Weber, m. (1922). Economy and Society. Fund of Economic Culture.
• Mommsen, w. J. (1989). Max Weber and his legacy. Editorial Alliance.
• Ringer, f. K. (1991). Max Weber: an Intellectual Portrait. University of California Press.
• Roth, g. (nineteen ninety five). Max Weber: an intellectual biography. Fund of Economic Culture.

Links of interest

What studies sociology. https: // www.psychoactive.com/blog/Que-Studia-La-Sociology/
Max Weber. https: // www.Britannica.com/biography/max-weber-german-social
Max Weber's key contributions to sociology. https: // www.Thoughtco.com/Max-Weber-Relevance-To-Sociology-3026500