This is a specially commissioned set of essays on the themes of Max Weber, culture, anarchy and politics. It presents the first complete publication (in both English and German) of a series of letters written by Max Weber in 1913 and 1914 during his stays at the anarchist settlement of Ascona. The letters show Weber debating with the issues of free love, eroticism, patriarchy, anarchism, terrorism, pacifism, political and personal convictions and power. These themes are taken up by the contributors in a wider discussion of the relation of culture and politics.

Weber is increasingly being recognized as the theorist of modernity. Unlike Marx and Freud, he has not suffered from the mistakes of his followers and, as capitalism triumphs, his writings about disenchantment, routinization, the foundering of morality and justice and the disintegration of personality seem to have the ring of prophecy about them.

Weber is increasingly being recognized as the theorist of modernity. Unlike Marx and Freud, he has not suffered from the mistakes of his followers and, as capitalism triumphs, his writings about disenchantment, routinization, the foundering of morality and justice and the disintegration of personality seem to have the ring of prophecy about them.

Understanding Weber provides an accessible and comprehensive explanation of the central issues of Weber's work. Using the most recent scholarship and editions of Weber's writings, Sam Whimster establishes the full range, depth and development of Max Weber's approach to the social and cultural sciences. This ground-breaking book:

• locates the central issues in Weber's writings and relates them to the golden era of social and cultural sciences
• argues that Weber remains the major exponent of the classical tradition still relevant today
• offers a new interpretation of the...

Understanding Weber provides an accessible and comprehensive explanation of the central issues of Weber's work. Using the most recent scholarship and editions of Weber's writings, Sam Whimster establishes the full range, depth and development of Max Weber's approach to the social and cultural sciences. This ground-breaking book:

• locates the central issues in Weber's writings and relates them to the golden era of social and cultural sciences
• argues that Weber remains the major exponent of the classical tradition still relevant today
• offers a new...

Weber's methodological writings form the bedrock of key ideas across the social sciences. His discussion of value freedom and value commitment, causality, understanding and explanation, theory building and ideal types have been of fundamental importance, and their impact remains undiminished today. These ideas influence the current research practice of sociologists, historians, economists and political scientists and are central to debates in the philosophy of social science. But until now Weber's extensive writings on methodology have lacked a comprehensive publication. Edited by two of the...

Whimster brings together international experts and academics, financial sector decision-makers and bankers, policy-makers and politicians to give their answers and solutions to the growing crisis in the financial services sector in the U.K.

Weber's methodological writings form the bedrock of key ideas across the social sciences. His discussion of value freedom and value commitment, causality, understanding and explanation, theory building and ideal types have been of fundamental importance, and their impact remains undiminished today. These ideas influence the current research practice of sociologists, historians, economists and political scientists and are central to debates in the philosophy of social science. But, until now, Weber's extensive writings on methodology have lacked a comprehensive publication.

Edited by...