Weber II (2/12) Weber’s Protestant Ethic argument His religious sociology as a whole Weber’s universal history

The connection of Conflict and Functional Theory One of the main reasons Weber has been important is that many sociologists felt that he provided ways of integrating functional and conflict theory. One of the main reasons Weber has been important is that many sociologists felt that he provided ways of integrating functional and conflict theory. Today we shall Today we shall 1. Look at his religious analysis of Protestantism, which has often been interpreted functionally. 2. Look at the relation between that and his model of the role of Christianity in the development of modernity as a whole. 3. Look at a feedback representation of some of the dynamics.

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism Became the focus of the functionalist interpretation of Weber. Became the focus of the functionalist interpretation of Weber. Parsons interpreted it as “outflanking Marx” Parsons interpreted it as “outflanking Marx” by showing the essential role of religious values in generating capitalism. by showing the essential role of religious values in generating capitalism. Thus, it implied that the interpretation of basic norms and values is the basis of any adequate analysis of social structures. Thus, it implied that the interpretation of basic norms and values is the basis of any adequate analysis of social structures.

Protestant ethic values What makes entrepreneurs tick? What makes entrepreneurs tick? Why would someone with $ 1 million work a 60 hour week, pinching every penny, and spending nothing on themselves or those they care about? Why would someone with $ 1 million work a 60 hour week, pinching every penny, and spending nothing on themselves or those they care about? Why would someone work for the sake of working? Why would someone work for the sake of working? Weber argued that part of the answer lay in the psychology of the doctrine of predestination. Weber argued that part of the answer lay in the psychology of the doctrine of predestination.

The popular (vulgar) Protestant Ethic thesis: Protestantism arose prior to capitalism. Protestantism arose prior to capitalism. It motivated people to accumulate capital more effectively than Catholicism It motivated people to accumulate capital more effectively than Catholicism Salvation anxiety resulted from the idea that “Some are damned and some are elect, and there is nothing whatever you can do about it.” Salvation anxiety resulted from the idea that “Some are damned and some are elect, and there is nothing whatever you 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 prosper. Based on the view that the elect would prosper.

Other Weber arguments: Though those arguments appear in Weber they are combined with others. Though those arguments appear in Weber they are combined with others. One set is in his book-length essay on “The Protestant Sects” One set is in his book-length essay on “The Protestant Sects” 1. Sect structures exert more controls. 2. Predestination can justify poverty. 3. Class membership in the sects was bourgeois, and helped break up the aristocratic establishment. 4. Protestantism accentuated the inner- worldly asceticism of all of Christianity.

1: sect structures When someone is born into a religion, anyone can get in. When someone is born into a religion, anyone can get in. When sects are in competition with each other, they can kick people out more easily, When sects are in competition with each other, they can kick people out more easily, and they can serve as credit societies and they can serve as credit societies The competing sects tended to drive individual business success rather than “good works.” The competing sects tended to drive individual business success rather than “good works.”

2. The elect and the damned The view that God has predetermined the elect and the damned gave a justification for doing nothing for the poor. The view that God has predetermined the elect and the damned gave a justification for doing nothing for the poor. They are predestined to misery and of no concern to the elect. They are predestined to misery and of no concern to the elect. Spencer and Social Darwinism appealed to this sentiment. Spencer and Social Darwinism appealed to this sentiment.

3. The aristocratic establishment The medieval church had merged with aristocracy and monarchy. The medieval church had merged with aristocracy and monarchy. Therefore the Reformation loosened the hold of that social, political, and ideological establishment. Therefore the Reformation loosened the hold of that social, political, and ideological establishment. E.g. Merton: the role of Protestants in English science E.g. Merton: the role of Protestants in English science

4. Inner-worldly Asceticism in Weber’s Religious sociology But Weber’s 5,000 pp., multi-volume study of world religions mainly stressed the role of “inner-worldly asceticism” on the general process rationalization. But Weber’s 5,000 pp., multi-volume study of world religions mainly stressed the role of “inner-worldly asceticism” on the general process rationalization. Extension of corporate, bureaucratic structures into law, the economy, etc. always runs into powerful resistance of kinship and tradition. Extension of corporate, bureaucratic structures into law, the economy, etc. always runs into powerful resistance of kinship and tradition. Religious structures can play a powerful role in breaking down that resistance. Religious structures can play a powerful role in breaking down that resistance. But only if they close off two main ways that religion can fail to change the world: But only if they close off two main ways that religion can fail to change the world:

Two aspects of all religious ethics Mysticism v. asceticism: A mystic tries to be the container of a sacred feeling; the ascetic tries to systematically carry out God’s instructions. Mysticism can accommodate to the world. Mysticism v. asceticism: A mystic tries to be the container of a sacred feeling; the ascetic tries to systematically carry out God’s instructions. Mysticism can accommodate to the world. Inner-worldly v. otherworldly ethics: A worldly (or inner-worldly) religion is concerned with action in worldly structures (family, jobs, politics). An other-worldly ethic calls people to abandon those structures for God. Inner-worldly v. otherworldly ethics: A worldly (or inner-worldly) religion is concerned with action in worldly structures (family, jobs, politics). An other-worldly ethic calls people to abandon those structures for God. Inner-worldly asceticism is most effective at breaking down premodern elements of kinship and magic. Inner-worldly asceticism is most effective at breaking down premodern elements of kinship and magic.

Weber’s typology of World Religions The different world religions had different amounts of inner-worldly asceticism. The different world religions had different amounts of inner-worldly asceticism. Christianity had more; Protestantism had most. Christianity had more; Protestantism had most. Inner- worldly Other- worldly AsceticChristianityIndia MysticChina

Limitations of Weber’s Interpretive sociology Culture always reinforces and is reinforced by social structure in many ways. Culture always reinforces and is reinforced by social structure in many ways. Measurement of such meaning structures is difficult. Measurement of such meaning structures is difficult. The amount of causal impact is hard to judge, The amount of causal impact is hard to judge, and it may be more useful to integrate functional and conflict theory in terms of feedbacks. and it may be more useful to integrate functional and conflict theory in terms of feedbacks.

Measures of religious ethics in the General Social Survey Greeley has included a number of batteries of questions on respondent’s basic view of God and of the world. Greeley has included a number of batteries of questions on respondent’s basic view of God and of the world. i.e. is God more like a father or a mother; a lover or a king;… i.e. is God more like a father or a mother; a lover or a king;… How strongly they correlate with other actions behaviors and beliefs is an empirical question. How strongly they correlate with other actions behaviors and beliefs is an empirical question. Why the associations that exist are there is under theoretical dispute. Why the associations that exist are there is under theoretical dispute.

Weber’s general universal history 4 intermediate conditions of rationalization, unique to the West, generate the basis of rational capitalism.

The Bureaucratic state Only in the West did the political structure take the form of a formalized bureaucratic nation state. Only in the West did the political structure take the form of a formalized bureaucratic nation state. Above all, the set of rules can be changed; but until it is changed it is predictable. Above all, the set of rules can be changed; but until it is changed it is predictable. Thus, the rational capitalist operates within a relatively predictable environment. Thus, the rational capitalist operates within a relatively predictable environment.

A government of law The formal rationality of the law, based on the supervision of courts by other courts, The formal rationality of the law, based on the supervision of courts by other courts, allows the application of legal principles, indefinitely developed in a way that is self-consistent, allows the application of legal principles, indefinitely developed in a way that is self-consistent, To unique new cases. To unique new cases. Weber argues that formal law is unique to the West. Weber argues that formal law is unique to the West.

Citizenship The complex process of the expansion of citizenship, The complex process of the expansion of citizenship, over the course of 20 centuries, over the course of 20 centuries, Led to a wide conception of civil rights by the 18 th c. Led to a wide conception of civil rights by the 18 th c. And to expansion of the franchise in the 19 th and 20 th c. And to expansion of the franchise in the 19 th and 20 th c. Weber’s political sociology tracks this process. Weber’s political sociology tracks this process.

A Non-dualistic ethic: Universalism From Saul’s conversion on the road to Tarsus, to the development of Christianity as a world religion, From Saul’s conversion on the road to Tarsus, to the development of Christianity as a world religion, Weber argues that Christianity could take the prophetic tradition of Judaism Weber argues that Christianity could take the prophetic tradition of Judaism and develop it in terms of universal human dignity and brotherhood. and develop it in terms of universal human dignity and brotherhood.

A Eurocentric Analysis? Weber believed that these four institutional complexes or rationalization, in the West then Weber believed that these four institutional complexes or rationalization, in the West then transformed the world. transformed the world. They created the basis of a kind of universalism that was not possible prior to these developments. They created the basis of a kind of universalism that was not possible prior to these developments. But they also are the basis of a coercive and constraining iron cage. But they also are the basis of a coercive and constraining iron cage.

Feedbacks: the 21 st c. sociology “What goes around comes around.” “What goes around comes around.” As the effects of any change proliferate, logically, they must have one of three consequences: As the effects of any change proliferate, logically, they must have one of three consequences: 1) they ultimately reinforce the original change: positive feedback. 1) they ultimately reinforce the original change: positive feedback. 2) they ultimately undermine the original change: negative feedback. 2) they ultimately undermine the original change: negative feedback. 3) they have inconsistent effects. 3) they have inconsistent effects.

Meanings, power and feedbacks All meaning systems and organizational systems involve both control structures (negative feedbacks) and accumulation dynamics (positive feedbacks.) All meaning systems and organizational systems involve both control structures (negative feedbacks) and accumulation dynamics (positive feedbacks.) This is one of the reason that interpretive sociologists and symbolic interactionists have been skeptical of empirical research based on a one-way effect of independent variables on dependent variables. This is one of the reason that interpretive sociologists and symbolic interactionists have been skeptical of empirical research based on a one-way effect of independent variables on dependent variables.

Positive feedbacks (review) Positive feedbacks generate an amplifying, self-reinforcing dynamic. Positive feedbacks generate an amplifying, self-reinforcing dynamic. Because they are self-reinforcing, they create alienated dynamics that tend to “take on a life of their own.” Because they are self-reinforcing, they create alienated dynamics that tend to “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 of Native Americans or the game of Monopoly, illustrate such dynamics. Structures of inequality, such as the death of Native Americans or the game of Monopoly, illustrate such dynamics. Weber’s analysis of institutional power was the basis of non-Marxist conflict theories. Weber’s analysis of institutional power was the basis of non-Marxist conflict theories. Resources e.g. $ Access to more Resources e.g. making the rules + +

Negative feedbacks (control systems) Negative feedback results when a change produces consequences that reduce the original change. Negative feedback results when a change produces consequences that reduce the original change. Such systems are often called “homeostatic” Such systems are often called “homeostatic” For example, in the body, and increase in temperature, blood sugar, arousal, etc. triggers processes that tend to restore the original level. For example, in the body, and increase in temperature, blood sugar, arousal, etc. triggers processes that tend to restore the original level.

The classic example: a thermostat A thermostat operates to cut off the furnace when the temperature rises. A thermostat operates to cut off the furnace when the temperature rises. Thus a rise in temperature triggers a process that causes a fall in the temperature, Thus a rise in temperature triggers a process that causes a fall in the temperature, and a fall in the temperature triggers a process that causes a rise. and a fall in the temperature triggers a process that causes a rise. temperature + Cut off of furnace -

Sociological examples: norms Durkheim argued that norms are maintained by the response to their violation. Durkheim argued that norms are maintained by the response to their violation. Negative sanctions (punishment) of those who violate norms, reinforces the norms for everyone else. Negative sanctions (punishment) of those who violate norms, reinforces the norms for everyone else. Parsons made the functional performance or roles, subject to normative expectations, the basis of structural-functionalism. Parsons made the functional performance or roles, subject to normative expectations, the basis of structural-functionalism.

A representation of Negative feedback: Norm violation Negative sanctions + -- Any self-maintaining system involves negative feedbacks Eg. Crime and punishment, role expectations and role- partner responses, vested interests.

Social systems as control systems Talcott Parsons argued that all social behavior is guided by norms and values. Talcott Parsons argued that all social behavior is guided by norms and values. Thus the social system is a self- maintaining control system. Thus the social system is a self- maintaining control system. He called this analysis of social structures as performing functions guided by norms “structural functionalism” He called this analysis of social structures as performing functions guided by norms “structural functionalism” It was dominant in US sociology from 1945 to It was dominant in US sociology from 1945 to 1965.

Problems of the analysis of feedback systems Where there are no feedbacks, it is possible to estimate the causal influence of one variable on another by seeing how closely they are associated. Where there are no feedbacks, it is possible to estimate the causal influence of one variable on another by seeing how closely they are associated. Feedbacks require a different and more difficult analysis. Feedbacks require a different and more difficult analysis. There are many forms of systems theory, and many of them are not empirical. There are many forms of systems theory, and many of them are not empirical. Parsons analysis was usually not empirical. Parsons analysis was usually not empirical.

The promise of feedback analysis Nevertheless, many of the most important dynamic processes in sociology involve feedbacks. Nevertheless, many of the most important dynamic processes in sociology involve feedbacks. In general, conflict theories are based on positive feedback systems In general, conflict theories are based on positive feedback systems Functionalists stress negative feedback systems. Functionalists stress negative feedback systems. There has been a rapid growth of complex systems dynamics in the 21 st c There has been a rapid growth of complex systems dynamics in the 21 st c Empirical analysis of such systems is one of the main tasks of 21st c sociology. Empirical analysis of such systems is one of the main tasks of 21st c sociology.