Sociology 401
Sociological Theory
Fall 2001
Dr. Scott Schaffer

Week 2: Weber, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, pp. 1-50 (recommended: CMST, pp. 119-132)

Assignment: You are to meet with your discussion group and discuss these questions during this week of readings, as well as any other questions or ideas that might surface. The group will collectively write up brief responses to each of these questions and submit them, as well as any questions that come up during your discussion. Each member of the group who was in attendance at the meeting will sign the responses (and print your name, so I know who's in the group) attesting to their participation. You should also note that the questions are "cumulative," so that #6 on this set builds on all the questions that come before it.

Your written work is due on the first class meeting following the week for which the discussion questions are assigned; no late discussion questions will be accepted for credit. For this week's work, it will be due on Weds Sep 12/2001.

1. What does Weber mean by "rationalism"? What relationships does he identify between the philosophical concept of rationalism and everyday life? Between "technical knowledge" and everyday life?

2. What distinctions does Weber make between Western/Occidental civilization and non-Western/Oriental civilizations? Between the forms of capitalism he associates with each? Why does he make these kinds of distinctions, and what effects do they have on his study?

3. Describe Weber's research method in The Protestant Ethic. Outline his key research question(s), the aspects of social life he intends to study, the key concepts he utilizes, and the key relationships he identifies. How do these compare to those Durkheim uses in his studies?

4. Outline Weber's description of "the Protestant ethic", as well as the way in which he derives this concept. In what areas of social life does he find this ethos?

5. What is the preliminary thesis Weber develops by the end of Part One regarding the development of capitalism? To what extent do you agree with this thesis? What parallels can you draw between this preliminary thesis and Durkheim's argument regarding the impact of the division of labor on social bonds between individuals?

6. To what extent does this first section of Weber discuss the structure/agency problem? How would Weber describe the social structure he lays out in this part of The Protestant Ethic? How would he describe individual agency? Where on the continuum between structure and agency would he place the society he describes?