Weber first developed theory of social action in his work “ Economy and Society” ,which he

wrote b/w 1911~1920 is a series of essay underlying problem in historical debate(

contemporary ).The term ‘social action’ derives from the body of Weber's work which
concerned itself with developing a theory for making valid judgments about the decisions
individuals make in their actions with
others in a social environmen He attempted to outline the methodological foundation of
social science by showing how they were different from other disciplines including natural
science. The theory of social action proposed by weber embraced the question of
meaningful SA is an attempt to incorporate the relevance of value in theory of social action.
because it is a product of methodenstrict.
Weber regarded the distinction b/w natural and social science which led him to put forward a
theory of social action. Weber's comparison had 3 distinct issues :
(1) He stated that the subject matter studied by the two sciences was distinctively
different. The natural sciences studies physical and natural events, while social l
science studies human social action
(2) In natural science , knowledge is of the external world which can be explained
through valid laws. In social science knowledge must be internal or subjective in the
sense that human being have an inner nature that must be understood in order to
explain outward events .
(3) investigation in natural and social science take up different orientation to the subject
matter. In natural science it is sufficient to observe events in natural world and to
establish relationship b/w things observed . In social science investigators must go
beyond observation to look at how individuals act on their understanding .
Weber made 2 fundamental assertions :
1. Sociology must concerns itself with interpretation of social action
2. Sociology must concerns itself with interpretation if social action .
Weber's theory of social action involves four concepts;
1. The concept of verstehen
2. The concept of Interpretative understanding
3. The concept of subjective meaning
4. the concept of social action
What is central to Weber's discussion of social action is the idea of Interpretative
understanding and It's directly related to the concept of verstehen .
verstehen means 》 human understanding
weber used it to signify what was unique about the subjective matter of social science .
In Weber's view the social science is concerned with actions of human being that they have
an inner state in which they make constant judgement and evaluation that make them to
interpret their environment .
Human Action 》 inner states
Natural world》 outer states
This led weber to assert that social phenomenon are not only identified by their external
characteristics but their dependence on“verstehen.
2nd concept of weber theory is Interpretative understanding weber Discussed
Interpretative understanding in his book economy and society where he makes 2types of
understanding :
● Direct understanding :A/c to weber understanding an Action by virtue of physical
characteristic of the act and by focusing attention to what is going on external world. In
instance the meaning of act is visible from direct Observation of physical characteristic of the
act. As such do relies on Observation to obtain the meaning of the act and confirm what is
taking place . An eg ued by weber to illustrate DU is 2*2=4 this states “ when we hear or
read it. another eg used is that of chopping wood or outbrust of anger. These actions can be
gasped by their visible characteristics .
● Explanatory understanding : Explanatory understanding is a form of social action which
engages in judgement about the motives, weber believed that it takes place within the inner
states of an actor. Weber called this subjective meaning in order to devote that it occurs in
the actor's inner state and to discern a motive the actor's must exercise Interpretative
understanding by attaching meaning to it.
Types of social actions;
(i)subjective rationality, referring to the
degree of inner evaluation which the actor
engages in cognitively before the act
(ii) objective rationality: which refers to the degree that action embodies rational principles by
specific format rules.
Weber began by distinguishing between four types of social actions :
● Traditional Action:
Traditional action occurs when the ends and the means of action are fixed by custom
and tradition. For example, some so-called primitive societies have very strict rites of
succession for group leaders. What is important about traditional action is that the
ends of action are taken for granted and appear to be natural to the actors concerned
because they are unable to comprehend the possibility of alternative ends.This is an
action which is guided by customs and long standing beliefs which become second
nature or habit. In traditional Indian Society doing ‘pranam’ or ‘namaskar’ to elders
is almost second nature needing no prompting.

●Affactual Type: action is affactual if it satisfy a neef of revenge, sensual

gratification, devotion etc. The actor is directly motivated by an emotional state of
mind by an actor.Like traditional action is not oriented to a specific goal or value but
it is an expression of emotional state of actor in given circumstances.This kind of
action results from the emotional state of mind of the actor. If someone is teasing a
girl in a bus, she may get so irritated that she may slap the offending person. She has
been provoked so much that she has reacted violently. In this example, the action is
defined not with reference to a goal or system of values, but by the emotional
reaction of an actor placed in a given set of circumstances.

● Value-rational Action:Action is rational in relation to a specific value. This

action occurs when individuals use rational – that is effective means to achieve goals
or ends that are defined in terms of subjective meaning. According to Weber, when
individuals are value rational, they make commitments to certain subjective goals
and adopt means that are effective in attaining these ends.Here, means are chosen
for their efficiency but the ends are determined by value. For example, a soldier
laying down his life for the country. His action is not directed towards attaining
specific material goal like wealth. It is for the sake of certain values like honour and
patriotism.
Weber’s differentiation between the two basic types of rational action The first is the
means- end rationality. The action that is determined by expectations These
expectations are used as ‘conditions’.The second is value rationality, or action that is
determined by a conscious belief in the value for its own sake of some ethical,
aesthetic, religious or other forms of behaviour, independently of its prospects for
success.

● instrumental Action: This action may be rationally expedient if it is based on

logical or scientific grounds. This action entails a complicated plurality of means and
ends. The ends of action (for example goals, values) are either taken as means to the
fulfilment of other ends, or are treated as if they are set in concrete. In this way
action becomes purely instrumental.

Criticisms of social action theory

● The case study of Calvinism is not necessarily a good example of social action
and social change, as many other capitalist societies have emerged from
non-Protestant countries.
● There may be more motivations behind the actions than the four types
outlined by Weber.
● Proponents of structural theories argue that the social action theory ignores
the effects of societal structures on the individual; society shapes individuals,
not the other way around.