elective affinity

is a characterization of the (not precisely causal) relationship of ideas to interests, for example, between such domains as protestant ideas and capitalism.

At one place in Economy and Society Weber notes, for example, that there exist 'an elective affinity between the sect and political democracy' (ES: 1208). He also uses this expression to characterize the relationship of ideas to interests, say between Protestant ideas and capitalism (e.g. PE: 91-2, PED: 107).

is a coming together of circumstance and a culturally determined form of life conduct... the relational link displays displays 'causal adequacy', the one supporting th other.

For Weber, elective affinity is a coming together of circumstance and a culturally determined form of life conduct... the relational link displays what Weber terms 'causal adequacy', the one supporting th other. Culture ('Kultur'), for Weber, is always live rather than dormant, and does not exist as a rotating flywheel in neutral, so to speak, waiting its engagement with history. Culture embedded into life conduct is fate or destiny, and it is either realized or frustrated.

is a complex relationship that does not give rise to new ideas but to the emergence of an accommodation, a mutual acceptance.

Elective affinity is a complex relationship that gives rise not to new ideas but to the emergence of an accommodation, a mutual acceptance.

is a powerful relationship that crystallizes under changing conditions.

As illustrated in Goethe's famous novel of the same name, elective affinities are powerful relationships that crystallize under changing conditions.

is a relationship perhaps better defined by the term 'compatibility' than causality.

The term 'elective affinities,' it is often noted, has its origin in eighteenth-century chemistry and was popularized through Goethe's novel of 1809 with that name. See e.g. Richard Herbert Howe, 'Max Weber's Elective Affinities: Sociology Within the Bounds of Pure Reason' (1978). It may finally be suggested that the term 'compatibility' may also capture some of the meaning of Weber's Wahlverwandschaft.

is a situation whereby the causal relationship is not strong enough to be designated 'determining'.

Stephen Kalberg points out that in situations of elective or inner affinity 'the causal relationship is not strong enough to be designated 'determining'' (Kalberg in Weber [1904-5] 2002b:lxxvii).

is a term used to express the fact that two sets of social facts or mentalities are related to each other or gravitate to each other even though no direct and simple causality between the two can be established.

The most common interpretation, however, is that 'elective affinity' is used by Weber to express the fact that two sets of social facts or mentalities are related to each other or gravitate to each other even though no direct and simple causality between the two can be established.

is a theoretical alternative to mechanistic causalism and quasi-organological functionalism.

for Stark, elective affinity is Weber's theoretical alternative to 'mechanistic causalism and quasi-organological functionalism (1958: 256).

elective affinity, n.All

elective affinity