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Published by Charles University in Prague, Karolinum Press, cooperated with Faculty of Humanities, Charles University in Prague.
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HISTORICKÁ SOCIOLOGIE, Vol 16 No 1 (2024), 29–39
Max Weber and the Cultural Evolution
Dávid Kollár
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23363525.2024.3
published online: 11. 06. 2024
abstract
Max Weber’s ambivalent view of evolutionary theory has sparked ongoing debate. While rejecting simplistic social Darwinism, his writings reveal an implicit evolutionary logic underlying broader cultural transformations. Across multiple works, Weber modeled cultural change through the interplay between charismatic innovation and institutional order. This paper argues Weber provides a sophisticated model of cultural evolution by elucidating the relationship between these two forces. The aim is to demonstrate how framing Weber’s dichotomy in evolutionary terms offers novel insight into his nuanced vision of social change.
keywords: Weber; evolution; charisma; institution; adaptation; exaptation
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Max Weber and the Cultural Evolution is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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