Disenchantment Throughtout the World

Fuquan Rogers
Mr. Reilly
Intro to Soc.
October 23, 2012
1. What is "Tolstoi's question"? Why can science not answer it?
2. What does Weber see as the great burden of living in modern society? In other words, what comforts of the past are less available to modern people?
Tolstoi's question is simple, although it's rather mind-boggling. His question is "What shall we do, and, how shall we arrange our lives” (Tolstoi, pg.424)? Or “Which of the warring Gods should we serve: or should we serve perhaps an entirely different god, and who is he” (Weber, pg424)? However, I do agree that science cannot answer these questions. I believe Science cannot answer these question because it’s a subject not a theory in my eyes; although who am I to make that moral judgment. In fact, in my opinion, I don’t think anyone can. For example, I have faith in “GOD”; I was raised in a Christian family, where I learned that GOD created humans and all else on the planet. Science and the idea of revolution was never introduced to me, and made a notorious concern until I enrolled into school. We all live in this world with mainly unwitting conceptions about the afterlife. Although, who’s to say someone’s beliefs are wrong? On the other hand, we all typically grow up into different religious backgrounds, in which we're taught various morals and principles. This is what makes us different; saying that, we're categorized into groups, and every group has contrasting assumptions. To conclude, Max Weber believed that "The World became disenchanted"(Weber, pg. 424). In a disenchanted world everything rapidly becomes logical and everyone gets used to it. Although, people may desire modifying the world; that’s not something that can just happen overnight. Everyone throughout the world has to agree on controversial issues around the world: but what are the odds of that happening? Finally, I agree with Max Weber because for example, before science and technology became so broad throughout the world, there was endless history and culture taught to the youth in various traditions.
I really don’t get what the argument Weber tried to formulate in this article but I'm assuming Weber believed the great burden in living in modern society is each person is intemperate and rather selfish. Weber acknowledged, “Science today is a vocation organized in special disciplines in the service of self-clarification and knowledge of interrelated facts” (Weber, pg.424). This indicates that in modern society; science is looked upon as a “profession” or “occupation” organized to make a clear understanding of common information. Alternatively, in the past yearning and tarrying is what people relied on. Meaning, people were waiting for many years for our rescuer; in other words, the return of “GOD”. Although, this issue is very controversial situation, although it came to an end because in modern times people think in a relatively scientific manner; which has its pros and cons; even though, which I accept as true, “science can’t answer questions of ultimate meaning of life”(Weber, pg.423). Weber also states, “We shall set to work and meet the demands of the day, in human relations as well as in our vocation. This, however, is plain and simple, if each finds and obeys the demon who holds the fibers of his very life” (Weber, pg.424). I assume Weber is trying to say that we should live our lives day by day with no remorse and to establish the flaws in our lives take them out and live life to the fullest.