Max Weber Economy and Society: A new translation

Key takeaways

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Reading notes

Social Ranks and Social Classes

• the position afforded by social rank typically involves a claim to positive or negative privilege in social estimation, based on:
  • the manner in which life is conducted, and so
  • the formal mode of cultivation (Erziehungweise), whether
    • empirical instruction or
    • rational instruction and on the possession of the corresponding forms of living
  • prestige of birth or of occupation
• In practice, the position afforded by social rank is expressed primarily in
  • intermarriage
  • eating together, and possible often
  • the monopolistic appropriation of privileged Chancen for gain, or the abomination of particular forms of gain
  • conventions relating to social rank "traditions" of other kinds
• the position afforded by social rank can be based on a class position of a particular kind. But it is not defined by this alone: the position of money and positing as an entrepreneur are not in themselves qualifications of social rank, although they can well lead to them. Nor is lack of wealth in itself a disqualification for social rank, although it can become so.
• on the other hand, social rank can determine class position in part or entirely, without however, being identical with it
• A "social rank" can be defined as many persons who within an organisation attract
  • special estimation due to their social rank, and possible also
  • are able to lay claim to particular monopolies by virtue of their social rank
• social ranks can arise
  • primarily through the particular way members of the rank lead their lives, especially including their occupation
  • secondarily through hereditary charisma, successfully laying claim to prestige by virtue of being descended from persons of a certain social rank
  • through the social rank's appropriation of political or hierocratic ruling powers as monopolies
• whereas acquisitional classes originate and flourish in a market orientated economy, social ranks develop and exist chiefly by monopolising the provisioning of organisations - whether this is liturgical, feudal, or patrimonial. A society is a "society of ranks" when the social structure is organised by rank; it is a "class society" when the social structure is organised by class. "Social ranks" are closest to "social classes" and most distant from "acquisitional classes". The constitution of social ranks is often heavily influenced by propertied classes.
• every society based on social rank is ordered conventionally through the regulation of life conduct; this therefore creates irrational conditions for consumption

A note on Weber's use of German language.

• Chance or chancen. is a central and consistently reoccurring term in the text that draws attention to Weber's, emphasis on contingency. It is, however, used in rather different ways, primarily it covers the senses of both chants and opportunity. The. plural in German is chancen.
• Stand. In early modern Germany, the Stande local groups based on family and social rank control the rights taxation. So a monarch seeking to raise money had first to reach agreement with a different Stande. Early modern England had no such equivalent hence. the idea that power lay in the hands of specific non territorial social groups was inconceivable Our problem then is that the social distinction implied by stand has no conceptual corollary in modern English for since early modern time, society has not been organised in this way. in seek an appropriate translation. We must also pay attention to modern usage of status. The translation Parsons employs in places is today far too diffuse an idea to convey the precise sense of social positioning that stand implies Therefore, for the most part translated as social rank apart from passages where social status hierarchical or social hierarchies seems more appropriate.