Remarks On The Sociology Of Action, The Protestant Ethic And The Spirit Of Capitalism

Abstract

The sociology of action, also called interactionist or shareholder sociology, is a perspective that departs from definitions that consider the activities of social actors and their representations as mere manifestations of the workings of the system. Consequently, we see in the sociology of action a commitment to build an understanding of the reasons that lead social actors to do what they do or to believe in what they believe. It should be emphasized that methodological individualism constitutes the fundamental principle of the sociology of action. In this article we will deal specifically with how the sociology of action serves as a guide to analyze the relationship between Protestant asceticism and the development of capitalism in the West. Such a relationship, treated fairly well by Max Weber, reveals to us that transformations in the economic sphere can find stimulus in other social domains, such as religion.