ABSTRACT
Max Weber’s methodological writings have long been a challenge for scholars. The causes of these difficulties are many and they include Marianne Weber’s choice for title of the volume which contained most of them as well as the unfortunate English translations. While more recent translations have corrected many of the earlier mistakes, there is still the tendency to regard Weber’s methodology as unitary. However, most of these works were individual responses to specific writings by others. And, as much as Weber emphasized the need for conceptual clarity, his own writings were often deficient. All of these reasons contribute to misunderstanding Weber’s methodological writings. This chapter will not address commentators’ mistake but will attempt to explain what Weber wrote. It is also not an attempt to indicate what he should have written but deals with what he did write. It is intended to offer a general overview of his important methodological ideas.
