Assignment Due 4/18

Choose a passage from Weber, write out the passage. Then explain the meaning of it, and then explain why you chose this passage.

“Whoever wants to engage in politics at all, and especially in politics as a vocation, has to realize these ethical paradoxes. He must know that he is responsible for what he may become of himself under the impact of these paradoxes. I repeat, he lets himself in for the diabolic forces lurking in all violence. The great virtuosi of acosmic love of humanity and goodness whether stemming from Nazareth or Assisi or from Indian royal castles, have not operated with the political means of violence. Their kingdom was ‘not of this world’ and yet they worked and still work in this world. The figures of Platon Karatajev and the saints of Dostoievski still remain their most adequate reconstructions. He who seeks the salvation of the soul of his own and of others, should not seek it along the avenue of politics, for the quite different tasks of politics can only be solved by violence [italics added]. The genius or demon of politics lives in an inner tension with the god of love, as well as with the Christian God as expressed by the church. This tension can at any time lead to an irreconcilable conflict (pp. 125-26).”

The meaning of this passage by Weber, If want to become a politician as a vocation, you need to understand the dilemma that this involve. Politician may involve with people that agree with their viewpoint or not. Those who have interest in this profession may change their personality and values. They have to choose what is right and wrong. Many of them want to act in a moral way and not lie or do bad things. Some people believe that in order to achieve the good, politician do bad things. As citizen we want politicians to be very honest and incorruptible, but sometimes are possible and impossible. Whoever want to engage in politics need to know about the ethical paradoxes.  Worldwide, politics have become human enemy and violence. Many people become self-intoxicate in order to get to their point. Sometime evil force make good politician become self-intoxicate. According to the passage people are responsible for their own choice. For example, not matter what is your believe, politic is only solve violence and you cannot mix religion with politics.  There only one king in the world “God “Jesus said he kingdom is not from this world. If it were, he servants would fight to prevent the arrest.  When people fight, create violence like politic.

I choose this passage because not long after the Bolshevik Revolution; in 1919 Weber delivered a lecture or passage about politics as vocation in Munich to the students. Politic can influence people in a positive or negative way.  Politics change people attitudes. Those who became politician need to be aware when decision needs to need make. You are responsible for your act and your decision. According to Weber people who are again human required some authentic ethic. Weber and Marx’ have to different point of view.  According to Marx’s history is created by people, not by metaphysical forces. On the other hand, Weber state that history is not creates by human, the religion or others ideas is cause by the material condition for example capitalism.