General Economic History

In this posthumous book Weber is concerned with two general problems: the analysis of the primary institutional forms underlying the phenomena of history, and the analysis of the progressive transformation to these forms. He finds in the supernaturalism organization of economic life. Its establishment is brought about by the rise of rationalism to dominant influence in all phases of social life, and for this reason adequate appreciation of the transition requires consideration of all classes of historical material. Ira J. Cohen is assistant professor of sociology, Rutgers University.