The Social Thought of Max Weber (Sage Social Thinkers Series, 2016)

Stephen Kalberg contends in this volume that a broader reading of this major Founder of modern social science is long overdue. Max Weber’s numerous conceptual contributions are all examined, as well as his “Protestant ethic thesis.” However, Kalberg maintains that Weber’s greatest contribution is to be found in his often-neglected investigations of entire civilizations. His big picture themes move here to the forefront: his charting of the uniqueness of China, India, and the West, his discussion of the multiple causes behind their particular trajectories, and his distinct comparative-historical approach anchored in “interpretive understanding” procedures. By reconstructing Weber’s analysis of the origin and expansion of the American civic sphere, this volume also illustrates how his research strategies can be applied.

The Social Thought of Max Weber (Social Thinkers Series)