Max Weber, Interpretive Sociology, and the Sense of Historical Science
A Positivistic Conception of Verstehen
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2275941 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Thomas Burger (0000-0003-3539-3564, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, corresponding author) |
| Year | 1977 |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 165-175 |
| Publication date | 1977-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sociological Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0038-0253 • E-ISSN: 1533-8525 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1533-8525.1977.tb01404.x |
| OpenAlex | W2110488952 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 16 |
Weber's advocacy of understanding and an interpretive sociology is shown to be a consequence of the anthropological premises of his theory of concept formation in history. These premises, which are implied in his Rickertian conception of value-relevance as the foundation of historical knowledge, are that men are interested in understandable historical developments because of their practical involvement in society—they rely on historical knowledge in their efforts to make sense out of the present. While acknowledging this indispensable function of history Weber insists, however, that historical knowledge can strictly justify neither the meaning given to the present nor man's conduct in practical affairs. This is why, in opposition to the mainstream of the Verstehen tradition, he argues against a valuing historical and social science. Yet this separation of values and facts does not entail an option for an irrational decisionism in value matters. On the contrary, it provides the very basis for their rational discussion. Those who impute to Weber the position that empirical knowledge has nothing to contribute to a social praxis but instrumental recommendations do not realize that this makes nonsense of his justification of historical knowledge
Epistemology · Meaning (existential · Positivism · Praxis · Social science · Sociology · Value (mathematics · Verstehen · Critical Theory and Philosophy · Philosophy · Political Theology and Sovereignty · Weber, Simmel, Sociological Theory
Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft.
A critique of Max Weber's philosophy of social science
Structure of Social Action
Political Critiques of Max Weber
Max Weber
Max Webers Wissenschaftslehre. Das Logische Problem der Historischen Kulturerkenntnis. Die Grenzen der Sociologie des Wissens
Max Webers Wissenschaftslehre
Methodology of Social Sciences
Political Critiques of Max Weber
Max Weber and the origins of the idea of value-free social science
Max Weber
Max Weber and the Objectivity of Social Science
Max Weber and Modern Sociology
Social Action, Behavior and Verstehen
Sense' and 'Intention' in Max Weber's Theory of Social Action
Critical Theory and Critical Sociology
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,06 |
| Citation span | 1990 - 2014 (25) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |