Weber's Ideal Types
Max Weber's concept of the ideal types is a 'measure' that he developed in order to aid sociologists like him study sociological phenomenon based on empirical data and evidence. The concept of the ideal type, then, is to demonstrate in general and abstract terms experiences and phenomena that are specifically and concretely identified in the social environment of the individual. In effect, the ideal types developed by Weber are his attempt to create a general and abstract concept from specific and concrete examples in real life. The ideal type acts as a "representative" from which a phenomenon or social scenario will be compared and contrasted against. Four ideal types were generated from Weber's studies: (1) the zweckrational, which employs rational means to achieve rational results; (2) wertrational, employing rational means to arrive at irrational results; (3) affektual or the employment of emotion; and (4) traditional or subsistence to custom and habit. The Gratz et. Al. Vs. Bollinger et. al. case brings into fore a critical issue that can be applied to Weber's ideal types. The University of Michigan's use of race as a "plus" indicator for applicants, and its employment of said rule on both applicants Gratz and Hamacher, is an example of a wertrational ideal type. The consideration of race as a qualifier or an ideal type itself in the University's admission rules is a rational step in order to satisfy or achieve an irrational goal. The rule does not, as the Supreme Court decision elaborated, in any way demonstrate consideration of racial diversity except for the fact that the University admits individuals who belong to underrepresented minorities. This being the case, it is irrational that such rule should be employed, and included still after annual revisions of the University's admission policies. This case serves as an example of how the wertrational ideal type is present in social phenomenon, and can provide reflections on how policies and rules are crafted, applied, and critically analyzed in real life scenarios.
Weber's conception of bureaucracy and "Office Space" Although 'red tape' and bureaucracy have become synonyms with inefficiency, the German sociologist Max Weber saw the development of bureaucracies as a positive rather than a negative development in human society. Weber believed in an ideal of an unbiased, efficient, rational bureaucracy, governed by uniform laws like a legal code as the best way to structure a fair society. Bureaucracies were superior to what
Sociological Theory The sociology of Max Weber (Question No. 1) Max Weber's sociology involved two important concepts: Protestant ethic and capitalism. Establishing a causal connection between this two concepts, Weber presented in his discourse, "Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism," how the Protestant ethic was the catalyst that propelled Western societies towards social progress through capitalism. This causal connection was developed through a string of observations and ideas that helped Weber
Public Administration Max Weber is a strong supporter and advocate for bureaucracy which he defines as "the means of carrying community action over into rationally ordered social action… an instrument of socializing relations of power, bureaucracy has been and is a power instrument of first order." (Weber, 1946). His point-of-view is however debatable with the question whether public administrators should be restricted to only laid down rules in the discharge of
The economy is society's base structure. This does not mean, however, that everything that occurs in history stems from the economy. Finally, the "materialism" of "historical materialism" is rooted in the idea that the capitalist mode of production is largely contingent on the behavior of participants in the market economy. To sum up, historical materialism is based on a series of principles. The first of these is how humans interact
Sociology Nazi Germany and how it would be analyzed by Karl Marx, Max Weber and/or Emile Durkheim Max Weber, born in 1864, is one of the best-known and most popular scholars of 'sociology', as well as of 'economic work'. One of his best contributions to the cause of economics as well as to sociology is his work entitled "Vertstehen" or what is also known as the theory of 'Interpretative Sociology' and his
This is what is affectionately known as cutting through the red tape. Politics and Administration 2. Whether or not administration should be separate from politics is one of the abiding controversies of our field. Describe Woodrow Wilson's and Frank Goodnow's positions (and why they argue what they do) on the matter. Then compare and contrast their ideas with those of Luther Gulick and Leonard White. How does Jane Addams conceive the
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