Max Weber (1864 – 1920)
Weber’s political philosophy appeared towards the end of the Enlightenment, a time of Social Radicalism that called for a revolt between the two main classes; the bourgeoisie and the proletariat. British Empiricism was at a standstill and the rise of the German state secured a more conservative way of thinking.
Following on from Karl Marx’s (1818 – 1883) political philosophy, Weber’s beliefs were wholly Kantian. He believed “The essence of politics is struggle" (Kilcullen, 1996, [Online]). He describes how power is obtained through political struggle; therefore there is value in conflict. Kant describes an “internal struggle against wicked desires” (Robinson and Groves, 1998), whereby we perform a duty in order to become virtuous.
Weber: On Bureaucracy
By “Bureaucracy”, Weber is referring to the way in which a government rules. It is his belief that a Bureaucracy is the most efficient way of implementing the ‘rule of law’. The Law is rational and therefore demands respect. Traditionally, there should be no resistance to authority and followers should be loyal to their leaders. “… the… bureaucratic type of administrative organisation… capable of attaining the highest degree of efficiency… the most rational known means of carrying out imperative control over human beings” (Kilcullen, 1996, [Online])
“The Trial” by Franz Kafka (1883 – 1924) follows the story of an office worker who is arrested and forced to stand trial for a crime he knows nothing about. He is a “victim of society” in which he becomes powerless against authority; slowly becoming demoralised. From a Marxist perspective, he becomes lost in a state of “False Consciousness” –Scepticism – where he is forced to deny, question and doubt. Synonymous with that of the Cartesian view, this doubt destroys his belief in everything.
Every Bureaucracy has interests of its own – their “moral authority”. The Prussian Government was the key institution of the German Empire. Weber believed the “ideal type” of bureaucracy should include the hierarchal division of labour. It should also be “Patrimonial” in allowing the buying and selling of property. Instead, the modern bureaucrat was removed from property and belonged to the Government. This ensured a high degree of stability within the State.
“Reliable following of the official rules is one of the highest values in a bureaucracy” (Kilcullen, 1996, [Online]). This corresponds to Thomas Hobbes’ (1588 – 1679) philosophy that obedience and morality are a “cynical agreement” (Robinson and Groves, 1998, page 52) between Civilian and State. Weber’s “Patrimonial” authority promotes the notion of equality set by Marx, whereby, he believed civilians should have equal rights to property.
To Weber, “bureaucratisation” was inevitable. After the powerful influence of Marx, Communism was seen, in practice, as a failed economic system. Capitalism was viewed as a more efficient, more bureaucratic way to develop modern civilisation. Society was now Goal-Rational, organised to maximise the attainment of goals and to increase profit for further investment.
References:
· Kilcullen, R.J. (1996) “Max Weber: On Bureaucracy” [Online]
· Robinson, D. and Groves, J. (1998) “Introducing Philosophy”: Icon Books UK, Totem Books USA.
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