Nihilistic Times: Thinking with Max Weber (The Tanner Lectures on Human Values)

pleased

This is Brown’s Tanner Lectures in human values. She uses Max Weber as her interlocutor to discuss the place of values today in politics and in science. Her analysis is interesting. The first part deals with the way that Weber thinks of the leader/ruler in politics as responsible in a world where values have no grounding. The second with Weber’s analysis of science, which leaves the academic bereft of any consolation prize, where the politician at least has the power at hand. In both cases, Brown argues that the left can learn from Weber’s analysis without adopting his conclusions. The Left needs to retake charisma in the political realm because reason alone cannot win the day—does anyone outside of Habermas—believe this today? In academics, we must remember that we shouldn’t teach values, but teach students how to make a genealogy of values since all values have no foundation. Brown has nothing to say about religion or theology here, and it’s unclear what she makes of Weber’s analysis. In general, her argument was rather standard and common for today. That is, her conclusions were. I’m not sure what she thinks she’s getting from Weber. But a quick interesting read if you’re into Weber or values or the relation between science and politics.

This was not what to do or how to live in our nihilistic times. It is instead a highly academic review of Max Weber.