Dark Times, Again: The Limits of Weber's Vocation Lectures, a Century Later: Charisma and Disenchantment: The Vocation Lectures, Max Weber

Abstract:This paper discusses Weber's Vocation Lectures, especially the issues of morality, politics, and science, in light of the spreading of disinformation in the COVID pandemic. As Weber is arguably our strongest advocate for the capacity of science and politics to supersede categories of moral meaning, it is useful to consider how categories of moral meaning—especially the category of evil—might be needed, in light of the fragility of science and politics. The essay suggests the limits and helpfulness of Weber's lectures for our present predicament.