General Economic History (Social Science Classics Series) [Paperback]

Max Weber (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0878556907 | ISBN-13: 978-0878556908 | Publication Date: January 1, 1981

In this posthumous book Weber is concerned with two general problems: the analysis of the primary institutional forms underlying the phenomena of history, and the analysis of the progressive transformation to these forms. He finds in the supernaturalism organiation of economic life. Its establishment is brought about by the rise of rationalism to dominant influence in all phases of social life, and for this reason adequate appreciation of the transition requires consideration of all classes of historical material.

Ira J. Cohen is assistant professor of sociology, Rutgers University.

Editorial Reviews

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"The special student will find all manner of delight in the illuminating treatment of particular points. The general reader will plow through the book with increasing pleasure."--Max Lerner
"Succinct and suggestivewill compel specialists to think."--London Times

Language Notes

Text: English, German (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 438 pages
• Publisher: Transaction Publishers (January 1, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878556907
• ISBN-13: 978-0878556908
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,376,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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This review is from: General Economic History (Paperback)

Early economics has been reduced by philosophers to making the relationship of master and slave productive. Max Weber makes fine distinctions in the kinds of relationships that gives the superior powers of life or death, or all powers except life and death, over people who are supposed to be doing the work. The financial system that makes Americans expect huge gains without producing much is like the $84 billion dollars expected to modernize the nuclear weapons systems in the next ten years: with the power to wipe out life on earth, Americans don't expect any powerful objections to setting up whatever form of collective financial suicide is likely to result from the marginal thinking of millionaires and billionaires.

People survived without electricity and indoor plumbing for most of recorded history, but basic expectations like transportation, as in Chapter XV:

Technical Requisites for the Transportation of Goods

had rowing and sailing instead of planes and airports for going long distances.

Chapter XI had Disintegration of the Guilds. We may discover news ways to arrive at domestic industry.