Max Weber, one of sociology’s seminal figures, drew from great thinkers of the past, the histories of civilizations, jurisprudence, the arts, psychology and philosophy. Out of this cloth, he fashioned a radically new set of guiding principles, a new view of the world, an explanatory model of human progression and civilization based on rationalism and […]

Different social structures have ruled the world through history. In this analysis Phin Upham reviews some of the most seminal theories on authority – is the basis for power charisma, bureaucracy or tradition? Max Weber, one of sociology’s seminal figures, borrowed extensively from great thinkers of the past, the histories of civilizations, jurisprudence, the arts, […]

What is really out there? Why do we think that we think? Phin Upham explores some of the classic works on the topic. Ross and Nisbett argue that our perceptions of ourselves and our casual attributions for our actions are not in fact complete or correct: we are not born tabla rasa, we do not […]

 Why do we do what we do? What motivates us? Are we goal oriented or hedonistic? A review of the seminal work on the topic by Phin Upham. The study of motivation seems to be one of those topics where much progress is made, but no final answers are ever given. Indeed, it is even […]