Many scholars view Max Weber's exposition of an "ethic of responsibility" in his 1919 lecture "Politik als Beruf" as a defense of pragmatic political action. This article re-examines Weber's argument in the context of his social scientific writings. It argues that Weber's political "ethic" is far more demanding than commentators have hitherto supposed. The conception of responsibility that emerges from Weber's work poses a serious challenge to the conventional modern equation of "acting responsibly" with "pursuing collectively desirable ends in an instrumentally rational fashion." Polity (2011) 43, 84-105.The rhetoric of responsibility and realism has played a prominent role in political discourse over the last decade. The new-or, at least, newly appreciatedthreats presented by terrorist networks and rogue states are said to render "responsible" political decision making more important than ever before. 1 Responsible political decision making supposedly requires us to "face the world as it is," however much we might wish it were otherwise. 2 Conversely, those who oppose so-called responsible leaders are dismissed as ignorant of the facts of the matter, reckless rather than risk-averse, and misguided in their moral reasoning.
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