Max Weber (1864-1920) is one of the founders of modern sociology. His contributions ranged from economics, political theory, and religion. At the core of Weber’s work was a concern with the modern German state. His two most influential translations are The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology a splendid collection edited by Gerth and Mills. Both books are searchable at Amazon.com. Weber’s most influential work was done in the areas of religion, bureaucracy, and rationalization.
Selecting an Area of Interest for Your Sociology Paper
One of the biggest mistakes undergraduates make when planning a paper is they do not narrow down their topic enough. Make sure to focus a specific area in you paper. Below are some suggestions and some helpful hints.
PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC: A great topic for conservative students. Weber outlines how post-Reformation thinking, specifically that of John Calvin, aided the evolution of capitalism. Much of The Protestant Ethic and the "Spirit" of Capitalism and Other Writings edited by Peter R. Baehr and Gordon C. Wells is available through Google Scholar.
MISTAKES TO AVOID: Weber isn’t pro-protestant or pro-capitalism in his writing. He is very careful here. One of the more sobering facts about Weber’s work is that he often presents the very positive right beside the negative. He often argues that the negative is a necessary result of bringing about something positive.
WEBER ON BUREACRACY: Most of Weber’s best quotes are from his writings on bureaucracy. It is also the area where he offers some of his more depressing insights. From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology is available through Google Scholar.
A WORD OF WARNING: Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with this topic. Passing on Weber’s doom and gloom won’t help your grade.
RATIONALIZATION: Very tough subject. See Weber and Rationalization by PD Casteelin EBSCO Research Starters for complete outline on the topic. Reading some notes and comments on George Ritzer’s The McDonaldization of Society might give some keen insight into how Weber’s rationalization is practically applied. The introduction by Gerth and Mills in From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology does a good job of explaining rationalization.
MISTAKES TO AVOID: Rationalization is not being more rational.
Books and Sources on Weber
Remember to include some critiques of Weber in your paper.
Best Tools for Writing a Sociology Paper without a Book
The Gutenberg Project at www.gutenberg.org has many full text books available and searchable online.
Amazon.com allows you to search many academic books online.
Google Scholar has many books online available for full or limited preview.
Professors love to put many of their class notes, new ideas, and old papers online.
If your college provides you with J-Stor or EBSCO access there are numerous papers available that summarize a thinker’s works and contributions. If you have access to EBSCO Research Starters even better. This site summarizes topics specifically for undergraduates.
One last hint: Talk to your professor about Weber and get their opinion. Weber is one of the most embraced social thinkers. It is possible to write a paper that has been done so many times before that it may be difficult to make your paper stand out. Pitch some different angles on the paper and see which one excites your professor.
