Weber, Max

The emergence of sociology as an academic discipline during the late 19th and early 20th centuries can be attributed, in part, to the contributions of Maximilian Karl Emil “Max” Weber. As a prolific writer, Weber's thoughts have impacted several fields of study, and in particular, his writings on values as well as bureaucracy remain important in terms of education.

Weber was born April 21, 1864, in Erfurt, Prussia (now Germany). In 1882, he commenced his studies at the University of Heidelberg as a law student, but after two years of study he left to fulfill a required year of military service. Upon his release from the military, Weber, at the insistence of his father, enrolled at the University of Berlin. In 1886 Weber passed the examination ...