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Max Weber
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Max Weber was born in 1864 and he too was considered by some to be the father of sociology. Weber looked at sociology in terms of it being an extensive science of social action and in the beginning he would only focus on specific social contexts. Somewhat in contrast to this belief, he later believed that one of the most distinguishing characteristics of a society is their change or shift in motivation that is caused by structural or historical forces.
The concept of the ideal-type came about so the sociologists and others would have a method to do historical-comparative studies. The ideal-type is mainly discussing Moral ideals. Weber used this method to form an ideal-type bureaucracy with the following: hierarchy, impersonality, written rules of conduct, promotion based on achievement, specialized division of labor, and efficiency. Weber defined such bureaucracies as goal oriented organizations designed according to rational principles in order to efficiently attain their goals (Verstehen). Weber saw many advantages in bureaucracies but he also saw that sometimes the power shifted only to those at the top and resulted in an oligarchy.
Rationalization is a process in which a person enters, applying practical knowledge to achieve an end. Rationalization is a large part of Weber's theories on bureaucracy. This is also where Weber and Marx begin to agree on some of the models of organization and rationalization. Both socialism and capitalism are the rational forms of sciences and organizations.
Weber also discussed authority. Weber sought to know what gave the power to one individual to be able to claim authority over another individual, such as man over woman. He also used the ideal-type to explain this in terms of traditional authority (pre-modern), rational-legal authority (modern), and charismatic.
Max Weber said that sociology is a science that is concerned with a social action and the course and/or consequences of the action. He had a large influence on many of the ideas that are used in sociology today. Max Weber died in 1920.
Copyright 2001 Jason Smith
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