SOC 233 Lecture : Soc 233 Sept 26
Document Summary
Criticized for being a functionalist and a positivist. Social facts are not as objective as he suggests; he talks about social facts as things that we can study, but inherent in all social facts are some subjective qualities. He made assumptions about human nature, despite claiming otherwise. Did not give consciousness an active role in the social process; not given enough human agency. Morality had too central of a role in his theories; focus of everything (e. g. , education) was on morality. The modern world is an iron cage of rational systems from which there is no escape. Mother led a frugal life and father enjoyed prestige and material things. Tension between parents" different outlooks shaped his theorizing. Northern european protestant behaviour more conductive to capitalism than southern. European catholic beliefs (protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism). Science requires objectivity and value-freedom from its practitioners. Note weber believed that we cannot have our values impinged on our work.
