About the Book
This volume contains key writings, mainly recent, that define the current debate concerning our understanding of the nature of Max Weber's social and political thought. Topics covered include the interpretation of his central concepts; problems of method; meaning and value; liberalism, nationalism and democracy; and the fate of politics in a disenchanted world. Supplemented by a detailed and thoughtful introduction, this collection will be essential for libraries in social sciences and all scholars and students of Weber.
Table of Contents:
Contents: Introduction. Max Weber: Central Themes: The problem of thematic unity in the work of Max Weber, Friedrich Tenbruck; Max Weber's 'central question', Wilhelm Hennis; Leo Strauss's confrontation with Max Weber: a search for genuine social science, Nasser Behnegar; Industrialization and capitalism, Herbert Marcuse; Max Weber: legitimation, method, and the politics of theory, Sheldon S. Wolin. Problems of Method: The problem of reference in Max Weber's theory of causal explanation, Gerhard Wagner and Heinz Zipprian; Weber on action, Stephen P. Turner Max Weber's idea of 'Puritanism': a case study in the empirical construction of the Protestant work ethic, P. Ghosh; Weber's The Protestant Ethic as hypothetical narrative of original accumulation, Peter Breiner; The meaning of 'wertfreiheit': on the background and motives of Max Weber's 'Postulate', Wilhelm Hennis. Meaning and Value: Methodological ambivalence: the case of Max Weber, Guy Oakes; Bad conscience for a Nietzschean age: Weber's calling for science, Robert Eden; What have we to do with morals? Nietzsche and Weber on history and ethics, Tracy B. Strong; Max Weber's reconceptualization of freedom, Kari Palonen; Max Weber on value rationality and value spheres, Guy Oakes); The incongruity between destiny and merit: Max Weber on meaningful existence and modernity, Gershon Shafir. Liberalism, Nationalism and Democracy: Max Weber's politics and political education, Lawrence A. Scaff; Doing without liberalism: Weber's regime politics, Robert Eden; The antinomian structure of Max Weber's political thought, Wolfgang J. Mommsen; Max Weber's liberalism for a Nietzschean world, Mark Warren; Max Weber and the liberal political tradition, David Beethem; Was Max Weber a 'nationalist'? a study in the rhetoric of conceptual change, Kari Palonen; Max Weber's liberal nationalism, Sung Ho Kim. Politics in a Disenchanted World: Max Weber: integrity, disenchantment, and the illusion of politics, Dana R. Villa; The political logic of economics and the economic logic of modernity in Max Weber, Peter Breiner; Max Weber and the rights of citizens, Duncan Kelly; Max Weber's missing definition of 'political action' and his 'basic sociological concepts': simultaneously a commentary on some aspects of Kari Palonen's writings on Max Weber, Michael Th. Greven; Index.
About the Author :
Peter Lassman is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory in the Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham, UK. He is Co-Editor of the European Journal of Political Theory, and is also the editor of a book on Max Weber's political writings. His main interests are the history of political and social thought and modern political philosophy. Contributors: Friedrich Tenbruck, Wilhelm Hennis, Leo Strauss, Herbert Marcuse, Sheldon Wolin, Gerhard Wagner, Heinz Zipprian, Stephen P. Turner, P. Ghosh, Peter Breiner, Guy Oakes, Robert Eden, Tracy Strong, Kari Palonen, Gershon Shafir, Lawrence A. Scaff, Robert Eden, Wolfgang Mommsen, Mark Warren, David Beetham, Kari Palonen, Sung Ho Kim, Dana R. Villa, Peter Breiner, Stephan Breuer, Michael Th. Greven.
Review :
'...provides a useful handbook of some scholarly issues of contention in the interpretation of his [Weber's} work...As a supplement to reading Weber himself this volume will be an important resource...a fine volume.' Heythrop Journal
