RHETOR 103B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Political Economy
Document Summary
German academic who analyzed german society, coined term sociology, political economist and social theorist. Important figure in social sciences, anchored the discipline of sociology. Explored relationship between protestantism and the rise of capitalism. Loss of wonder and curiosity at the functionality (ex. Today, we no longer have wonder or puzzlement, but concerned with case, results and calculation. Modern world of rationalization and bureaucratization, not take into account the divine, supernatural > secularization. ** this text is about modesty in intellectual research. Academics seek clarity and meaning - work is never complete but continue to engage the world to gain clarity, each with their own demons > their own journeys. No need to figure out if science is worthwhile (we take this for granted) but to gain clarity. Lecture delivered in 1917 in the midst of wwi addressed to graduate students. First gives advice, then ventures to unpack the meaning of science.