Max Weber on Religion and Political Responsibility

Abstract

In his two lectures on the vocations, Max Weber developed a ‘deep theory’ of responsibility focusing on: 1) a readiness to evaluate critically and repeatedly the foreseeableconsequencesof one’s actions; 2) a willingness toabandon or change one’s courseif one has reason to believe such action will result in consequences detrimental to other, more valuable ends or obligations; and 3) an ability tojustifyone’s final course of action to others. I criticize, among other things, Weber’s idea that the capacity of religion to inspire political responsibility can be measured in terms of its readiness to endorse the use of physical force. I am also critical of his ethical indeterminism and his belief that life- and value-spheres are impervious to rational mediation. Nevertheless, I conclude that his consequentialist theory of responsibility was a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between values and political power.