Relates the categories of Weber's social thinking to the intellectual context of legal thinking and theory in which he was educated. As such, this is the only account of the key sources of Weber's sociology of law.

Stephen P. Turner is Graduate Research Professor of Philosophy, University of South Florida. Regis A. Factor is Professor of Government and International Affairs. University of South Florida.

Preface -- 1 INTRODUCTION 1 -- 2 COMMON STARTING POINTS: THE WORLD CREATED BY PURPOSE AND THE CONCEPT OF ACTION -- 3 INTERESTS AND IDEALS -- 4 THE COMMANDS OF MORALI1Y -- 5 AUTHORI1Y: STATES, CHARISMA, AND RECHT -- 6 CAUSE -- 7 ABSTRACTION -- 8 EPILOGUE -- APPENDIX: Webers classification of action -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index.