This course examines Weber’s account of the field of social scientific inquiry and the methods appropriate to it, his substantive claims about empirical phenomena as well as the concepts he used to understand them (e.g. rationalization, authority). Emphasis will be on his political sociology, and Economy and Society will be read in its entirety. As with all great thinkers, the question is “what is alive and what is antiquated in Weber’s thought for us today?”

The prerequisites for this course are two upper division classes completed in one of the departments of the Division of History and Social Sciences.  This means, in simpler terms, that the course is aimed for juniors and advanced sophomores. Skills especially important are close readings and interrogations of the text and the ability to reconstruct arguments analytically.

Requirements

Conference participation in good faith. Rotating conference leadership with discussion points. Occasional writing in class or for the following conference, i.e. quiz or homework. There will be an assigned mid-term paper and a final exam with inclass and take home components.   You must check your email regularly as this will be the principle way in which I will communicate the readings for the following class. I can be contacted at extension 7346 or by email at rejali@reed.edu.

Books and Reserves

The main text for this course is Economy and Society. We will be reading the entire text. In addition, I have ordered Weber’s The Methodology of the Social Sciences.  Lastly, on reserve, you will find Gerth and Mill’s collection From Max Weber.

Reading List

Conferences, by their nature, are discussions that can run in many directions. Sometimes a particular text is not exhausted in one conference, and sometimes we can run through several articles at once.  I have no interest in constraining your thoughts and reflections, but rather pushing them to their logical conclusions. I also do not know what your skill levels are and how easily you will master the preparation.

In light of these facts about conferences, it would be premature for me to insist on a rigid timetable of readings for the course. What I offer instead is a reading list.

Week 1: “Science as a Vocation” and “Politics as a Vocation” both in Gerth and Mills

Week 2: “The Meaning of ‘Ethical Neutrality’ in Sociology and Economics” and  “ ‘Objectivity’ in Social Science and Social Policy”

Week 3-13: Economy and Society. Given that the entirety is about 1500 pages, assume you will read about 100-200 pages a week.

Midsemester, we will take a break from the text to discuss an assignment on secondary materials.