In this volume, Mr Runciman has selected extracts, from Max Weber's writings which reflect the full range of his major concerns: the nature of domination in human society, the role of ideas in history, the social determinants of religion, the origin and impact of industrial capitalism and the scope and limits of social science itself. He has also included some shorter extracts from Weber's less familiar writings on such diverse topics as the stock exchange and the history of the piano.
Reviews & endorsements
'The volume as a whole amply fulfils the editor's intention to produce 'a selection which will, so far as is possible within a single volume, give the English-speaking reader an overall picture of Weber's contribution to the remarkably wide range of topics in the social sciences to which he addressed himself over his career.' Economic Journal
'Mr Runciman's carefully edited selections (fluently, indeed brilliantly, translated by Mr Matthews) offer a most serviceable introduction. The oeuvre of a giant is not easily condensed: but most of these selections go right to the core of what Weber had to say about methodology, about religion, bureaucracy and law, and of his contributions to comparative economic history.' The Observer
'The editor has trusted his own good judgement, including some familiar pieces and some unfamiliar ones, and he has modestly kept his own comments to a minimum. The translator has worked to great effect. And the publisher has produced a very elegant book. The result is a first-class collection, the best of its kind.' New Society
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Product details
- Date Published: March 1978
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521292689
- length: 412 pages
- dimensions: 226 x 152 x 28 mm
- weight: 0.58kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Preface
Publisher's note
Biographical summary
Part I. The Foundations of Social Theory: Introduction
1. The nature of social action
2. Basic categories of social organisation
3. Classes, status groups and parties
Part II. The Methodology of the Social Sciences: Introduction
4. Value-judgements in social science
5. The concept of 'following a rule'
6. The logic of historical explanation
Part III. Ideology: Introduction
7. Protestant asceticism and the spirit of capitalism
8. The soteriology of the underprivileged
9. The religions of Asia
Part IV. Politics: Introduction
10. Politics as a vocation
11. The nature of charismatic domination
12. Socialism
13. Economic policy and the national interest in imperial Germany
14. The prospects for liberal democracy in Tsarist Russia
Part V. Economic and Social History: Introduction
15. Urbanisation and social structure in the ancient world
16. Government, kinship and capitalism in China
17. The origins of industrial capitalism in Europe
18. The development of bureaucracy and its relation to law
Part IV. Miscellaneous Topics: Introduction
19. Race relations
20. Industrial psychology
21. The stock exchange
22. The history of the piano
23. Freudianism
24. Sociology and biology
Index.
Look Inside
Author
Max Weber
Editor
W. G. Runciman
Translator
E. Matthews