Weber’s sociological theory is heavily based on subjective perspectives. Weber wants to analyze how individuals act in society and how they attribute meaning to their actions. For example, what does it mean for an individual to desire to attain a particular social status? At the same time, Weber also understood that such subjective meanings were products of social interactions. Whereas a particular individual may attach meaning to, for example, having an expensive automobile and apartment, so that this becomes the individual’s goals, these goals are at the same time conditioned by society: some segments of society will share the same meaning attached to the expensive car as the individual who purchases. However, not all individuals will attach this meaning to the object: someone else may criticize this social action of wishing to achieve material possessions as superficial and vein. From this perspective, therefore Weber’s theory acknowledges a paradox at the heart of society: there exist individual acts which infer various meanings that are derived from a larger social milieu. But not all these values are shared by all members of society. Therefore, in a sense Weber’s theory is about how individual choice confronts social norms and how they shape each other.
If we interpret Weber in this way, there appear to be some similarities and differences with the theories of DuBois. DuBois developed concepts such as the double-consciousness and the veil. These concepts were largely the result of his study of African-Americans, but could be applied to any number of groups. In terms of the double-consciousness, this designates the perspective African-Americans have that they live in a society whose history and social norms are dominated by a non-African group. Conformity to a non-African society thus is necessary for social success. However, at the same time the African-American understands that he is not a part of this dominant group, he will always remain an outsider. The veil in this sense refers to the African-American’s understanding that he will always be perceived as an outsider from the perspective of the dominant social group. Meaning for the African-American accordingly comes from emphasizing his African-American culture and at the same time from seeing himself from the perspective of non-Africans. The organization of African-American life is constituted by this fundamental tension in meaning: whose meaning should I accept, the African-American meaning or the meaning of the dominant social group? This bears a parallel to Weber’s work. Individual decisions are informed by larger social norms that will give meaning and organize one’s life: but these decisions also contain an individual element, in so far as there is no necessity for an individual to subscribe to the thesis that the acquisition of material goods means success.
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"Weber’s and DuBois’ Sociological Theories".
A key difference in the theories, however, appears to be Weber’s emphasis on subjectivity. Weber in other words has a more intensive theory of the individual. DuBois’ theories are more focused on larger social groups, such as the African-American community or the white community. Weber wants to understand how meaning emerges through an interaction of the individual and society. However, at the same time, there can be considered to be an element of individuality in DuBois’ theory: for example, if an African-American rejects his African background and attempts to entirely assimilate with the “white” world, then this could be viewed as an individual choice to conform to a particular social norm. However, the concepts of the veil and the double-consciousness do not directly address how or why this happens. DuBois’ theory in other words concerns tensions between social groups, whereas many of Weber’s insights address the tension between the individual and society.
