General Economic History - Softcover

Weber, Max

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1614275432 ISBN 13: 9781614275435

Publisher: Martino Fine Books, 2013

Synopsis

2013 Reprint of 1927 Edition. Exact facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Max Weber's "General Economic History" is based on his lecture notes and compiled shortly after his death. In this work Weber proposes an institutional theory of the rise of capitalism in the west. Unlike in his classic work on the Protestant ethic, religion is given a minor role. The emphasis of the work lies instead on the place of the state and calculable law in allowing economic actors to predict exchange for gain. Weber's institutional theory of capitalism was rediscovered in the early 1980s by writers like Randall Collins, Daniel Chirot, and Douglass C. North, who worked to replace theories based largely on Immanuel Wallerstein's "World Systems" theory. Though today read primarily by sociologists and social philosophers, Weber's work did have a significant influence on Frank Knight, one of the founders of the neoclassical Chicago school of economics, who translated Weber's General Economic History into English in 1927.

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Review

-Max Weber (1864-1922) belongs to the German school of historical sociologists and ranks with Werner Sombart as a leading exponent of the historical development of social life.... The expression of a natural wish that Weber had actually written this book with his own hand must not be construed as ingratitude to the editors and students who, with commendable enterprise, took pains to pass on so much important and scholarly work to those who had not the privilege of hearing the lectures.- --Alfred Plummer, The Economic Journal -This volume contains a collection of lectures on economic history by Max Weber, who laboured for many years to fashion out a system of sociology and won the highest renown in Germany.... [S]o well worth study is this book that it must surely inspire its readers with the desire that Weber's principal works should be also rendered into English.- --R. F. Harrod, Journal of the Royal Institute of International Affairs -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 suggestive . . . will compel specialists to think.- --London Times.

About the Author

Max Weber (1864-1920) was one of the founders of contemporary social science and arguably the greatest influence on the evolution of sociology--its theory and historical linkages. His work focused on the areas of the history and theology of religion, political systems, and organizational theory and behavior. He studied at the University of Heidelberg followed by the University of Berlin. After completing his advanced studies, he became professor of economics first at Freiburg University and then at the University of Heidelberg.

Edition details

• Publisher: Martino Fine Books
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1614275432
• ISBN 13: 9781614275435
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 420