Page 8 - Lessonnote_ Introducing Western Sociologist

and enforced a sort of collective
revenge for their acts.

MAX WEBER

st
• He was born on 21 April, 1864 in Erfurt Germany.
• Weber developed an interpretative understanding of social

action and of power and authority.

• Weber classified 4 types of social action. They are :
a) Traditional action:

Action which are governed by the influence of long standing
practice, customs and habits are called Traditional Action. Ex-

Religious rituals.

b) Instrumental Rational action:
When men engage in pursuit of specific goal rationally decide and

make use of the most efficient means to achieve these goals.

Such behaviour is termed on goal rational action.

c) Value – Rational action:

Action which is directed to value over-riding ideas of duty, honour

or devotion to cause.
d) Affective Action:

Actions strongly emotional determined by the specific status of

feeling of the actor are called as affective actions.

• Weber suggested that human actions carry subjective
meaning.

• He was the first to discuss about objectivity that the social

science to cultivate.

• Weber recognised that social scientists were also members

of society and always had their own subjective beliefs and
prejudices.