The writings of Max Weber (1864-1920) contain one of the most fascinating and sophisticated attempts ever made to create an economic sociology. Economic sociologist and Weber scholar Richard Swedberg has selected the most important of Weber's enormous body of writings on the topic, making these available for the first time in a single volume. The central themes around which the anthology is organized are modern capitalism and its relationships to politics, to law, and to culture and religion; a special section is devoted to theoretical aspects of economic sociology. Swedberg provides a valuable introduction illuminating biographical and intellectual dimensions of Weber's work in economic sociology, as well as a glossary defining key concepts in Weber's work in the field and a bibliographical guide to this corpus.
Weber's substantive views on economic sociology are represented in this volume through crucial excerpts from works such as his General Economic History and The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, but the reader can follow his attempt to construct a conceptual foundation for economic sociology in Economy and Society as well. Also included is Weber's celebrated inaugural lecture, "The Freiburg Address," along with a number of central but hitherto inaccessible writings. Though written nearly a century ago, Weber's work has the quality of a true classic, and the reader will find many ideas in his writings on economic topics that remain applicable in today's world. These include Weber's discussion of what is now called social capital, his analysis of the institutions needed for a well-functioning capitalist economy, and his more general attempt to introduce social structure into economic analysis. As this volume demonstrates, what basically motivated Weber to work with economic sociology was a realization shared by many economists and sociologists today: that the analysis of economic phenomena must include an understanding of the social dimension. Guided by volume editor Swedberg, the reader of this anthology discovers the significance and the enduring relevance of Weber's contribution to economic sociology.
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"This is an excellent time for a collection of Weber's work on economic sociology, and Richard Swedberg is the person to do it."Paul J. DiMaggio, Princeton University "Swedberg offers a comprehensive introduction to a neglected economic classic. This book will be of interest to intellectual historians, to sociologists, and to philosophers of science."Mark Perlman, University of Pittsburgh
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This is an excellent time for a collection of Weber's work on economic sociology, and Richard Swedberg is the person to do it. -- Paul J. DiMaggio, Princeton University Swedberg offers a comprehensive introduction to a neglected economic classic. This book will be of interest to intellectual historians, to sociologists, and to philosophers of science. -- Mark Perlman, University of Pittsburgh
NOTE ON THE TEXTS OF THE READINGS vii INTRODUCTION 3(38) Richard Swedberg PART I: MODERN CAPITALISM 41(56) ONE Modern Capitalism: Key Characteristics and Key Institutions 43(9) TWO The Spirit of Capitalism 52(23) THREE The Market 75(5) FOUR The Beginnings of the Firm 80(3) FIVE Class, Status, and Party 83(14) PART II: CAPITALISM, LAW, AND POLITICS 97(58) SIX The Three Types of Legitimate Domination 99(10) SEVEN The Bureaucratization of Politics and the Economy 109(7) EIGHT The Rational State and Its Legal System 116(4) NINE The National State and Economic Policy (Freiburg Address) 120(18) TEN The Social Causes of the Decay of Ancient Civilization 138(17) PART III: CAPITALISM, CULTURE, AND RELIGION 155(42) ELEVEN The Evolution of the Capitalist Spirit 157(11) TWELVE The Protestant Sects and the Spirit of Capitalism 168(11) THIRTEEN Kinship and Capitalism in China 179(6) FOURTEEN The Caste System in India 185(4) FIFTEEN Charity in Ancient Palestine 189(8) PART IV: THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF ECONOMIC SOCIOLOGY 197(64) SIXTEEN Sociological Categories of Economic Action 199(43) SEVENTEEN The Area of Economics, Economic Theory, and the Ideal Type 242(7) EIGHTEEN Marginal Utility Analysis and The Fundamental Law of Psychophysics 249(12) GLOSSARY Key Concepts in Webers Economic Sociology 261(26) A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL GUIDE TO WEBERS ECONOMIC SOCIOLOGY 287(16) INDEX 303
Richard Swedberg is Professor of Sociology at Stockholm University in Sweden. His books include Economics and Sociology (Princeton), Joseph A. Schumpeter: A Biography (Princeton), Max Weber and the Idea of Economic Sociology (Princeton), and The Handbook of Economic Sociology, coedited with Neil Smelser (Princeton).
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