The Cambridge Companion to Weber (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

Max Weber is indubitably one of the very greatest figures in the history of the social sciences, the source of seminal concepts such as "the Protestant Ethic" and "modernity." Prominent as a founding father of sociology, Weber has been a major influence in the study of ancient history, religion, economics, law and cultural studies. In this Cambridge Companion a very distinguished international team of contributors introduces Weber's thought, examines some of the major controversies that have erupted, and shows how the intellectual issues Weber raised have developed since he wrote. Front Cover 1 Series Page 6 Title Page 8 Copyright Page 9 Table of Contents 10 Contributors 12 Acknowledgments 15 Chronology of Weber's Life 16 Abbreviations 20 Introduction • Stephen P. Turner 22 Part I: Rationality, Rationalization, and Psychology 40 1 Rationality, economy, and society • Jon Elster 42 2 Rationalization and culture • Alan Sica 63 3 Psychophysics and culture • Wolfgang Schluchter 80 Part II: Politics and Culture 102 4 The rule of man over man: politics, power and legitimation • Peter Lassman 104 5 Weber on the cultural situation of the modern age • Lawrence A. Scaff 120 6 Global capitalism and multi-ethnicity: Max Weber then and now • Guenther Roth 138 7 Constitutional Caesarism: Weber’s politics in their German context • Sven Eliaeson 152 Part III: Religions and Their Economic Ethics 170 8 Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism • Alastair Hamilton 172 9 Max Weber’s Orient • John Love 193 10 Max Weber’s Ancient Judaism • John Love 221 Part IV: Law and Economics 242 11 Max Weber as legal historian • Harold J. Berman and Charles J. Jr. Reid 244 12 From agrarian history to cross-cultural comparisons: Weber on Greco-Roman antiquity • Wilfried Nippel 261 13 Max Weber as economist and economic historian • Stanley L. Engerman 277 Further reading 293 Index 300 Max Weber is indubitably one of the very greatest figures in the history of the social sciences, the source of seminal concepts like 'the Protestant Ethic', 'charisma' and the idea of historical processes of 'rationalization'. But, like his great forebears Adam Smith and Karl Marx, Weber's work always resists easy categorisation. Prominent as a founding father of sociology, Weber has been a major influence in the study of ancient history, religion, economics, law and, more recently, cultural studies. This Cambridge Companion provides an authoritative introduction to the major facets of his thought, including several (like industrial psychology) which have hitherto been neglected. A distinguished international team of contributors examines some of the major controversies that have erupted over Weber's specialized work, and shows how the issues have developed since he wrote. The articles demonstrate Weber's impact on a variety of research areas Rationality, Economy, And Society / Jon Elster -- Rationalization And Culture / Alan Sica -- Psychophysics And Culture / Wolfgang Schluchter -- The Rule Of Man Over Man: Politics, Power And Legitimation / Peter Lassman -- Weber On The Cultural Situation Of The Modern Age / Lawrence A. Scaff -- Global Capitalism And Multi-ethnicity: Max Weber Then And Now / Guenther Roth -- Constitutional Caesarism: Weber's Politics In Their German Context / Sven Eliaeson -- Max Weber's Protestant Ethic And The Spirit Of Capitalism / Alastair Hamilton -- Max Weber's Orient / John Love -- Max Weber's Ancient Judaism / John Love -- Max Weber As Legal Historian / Harold J. Berman And Charles J. Reid, Jr. -- From Agrarian History To Cross-cultural Comparisons: Weber On Greco-roman Antiquity / Wilfried Nippel -- Max Weber As Economist And Economic Historian / Stanley L. Engerman. Edited By Stephen Turner. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

This Companion introduces Max Weber, one of the very greatest figures in the history of the social sciences.