Max Weber Quiz: do you know the philosopher considered the father of modern sociology? Test yourself with the Test!
Max Weber was a German sociologist, political scientist and philosopher considered among the founders of modern sociology, as his work covers a wide range of facets of sociology, including the sociology of religion, sociology of the state, sociology of culture and sociology of classes.
His most important work is "Economics and Society," in which Weber develops his theory of social action, arguing that human behavior is driven by individuals' interpretations of the world and not just by their material motivations. His analysis of Protestant ethics and the spirit of capitalism has become a classic of sociology.
Weber also argues that the Protestant religion, with its emphasis on vocation and hard work, contributed to the development of modern capitalism because it encouraged individuals to invest their money in business and industry instead of spending it all on charity and indulgences.
Weber also developed the theory of "legitimate domination": societies are ruled by those who can convince the majority of the population that their power is legitimate. According to Weber, there are three types of legitimate domination:
- the traditional, in which power is legitimized by tradition and loyalty;
- the charismatic, in which power is legitimized by the personality of the leader;
- the legal-rational, in which power is legitimized by law and rationality.
Max Weber's theories also include "social classes," in which he argued that societies are divided into social classes based on their economic positions and access to the means of production. He argued that class struggle is a constant feature of modern societies and that societies are evolving toward greater rationalization and bureaucracy.
Weber's thought and theories have had a significant impact on sociology and other disciplines such as economics, political science and history. His work provided a theoretical basis for many of the issues that are still debated today, such as the relationship between capitalism and religion, the nature of power and class struggle, and the rationalization of modern societies.
