Chasing Society

In this episode, we begin a close examination of Max Weber’s famous study The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. The text is surrounded by half-truths, myths, and so-called “common knowledge,” much of which we can hopefully debunk, nuance, and correct through careful reading. So, what is this text really about? And what does it tell us about the process of societal rationalization? Let’s find out. I use the following translation: Weber, M. (2002 [1904-5]). The Protestant Ethic and...

In the episode, I outline Max Weber's idea of modern, rational capitalism. What defines it and what makes it rational? References: Carruthers, B. G., & Espeland, W. N. (1991). Accounting for Rationality: Double-Entry Bookkeeping and the Rhetoric of Economic Rationality. American Journal of Sociology, 97(1), 31–69. Hall, P. A., & Soskice, D. (2001). Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage. Oxford University Press. Swedberg, Richard (1998). ...

In the third episode in my series about the rationalization of society, I will attend to another important manifestation of the rationalization process that Max Weber outlined: the rational state. What does it mean for states to be rational, and what is the relation between the rational state and liberal democracies? Let’s find out. In this context, I will also explain and exemplify Weber's famous three types of legitimate domination, that will help us deepen our understanding of Weber's thi...

In this episode we are getting serious. We are going to talk about Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy and we are going to find out why bureaucracy is one of the most important rationalizing forces in the rationalized society. And please be careful, you might even learn something about the history of Prussia and the German Empire. Summary of the previous episode and introduction to this one starts at minute 2.14. Section 1 starts at minute 6.28. Section 2 starts at minu...

In this podcast series, I want to take a deep dive into the rationalization of society. In this first episode, I want to set the stage for this series and answer a simple question: What do sociologists mean when they speak of the rationalization of society? This episode is a general introduction to the topic and I’ve kept it as short as possible so you can smoothly immerse yourself in this complex phenomenon. If you enjoy it, please be sure to follow this show on your preferred streami...

In this episode, I will attend to one of the lesser known texts of Pierre Bourdieu: The Peasant and His Body. The text was published as a chapter in Bourdieu's last book and as a separate article in the journal Ethnography. The body takes centerstage in this ethnographic analysis of the lifeworld of the peasant in Bourdieu's home region of Béarn.

In this episode, I attend to Simmel's famous text The Metropolis and The Mental Life which was published in 1903. It seems as if this one has aged pretty well and may still be a valid description of the urban lifestyle.