ABSTRACT
Given Weber’s commitment to realism and rationality, his rejection of illusion, his
advocacy of science and politics, and his emphasis on conflict, heroic greatness, and worldly action, how are we to make sense of his focusing so much of his effort on the study of religion? Weber explained his work on religion as an interest in the effects of religious ethics on worldly activity, particularly economic activity. Most commentators assume that the motivating force is a desire to refute vulgar historical materialists. Hennis’ thesis that Weber was interested in the kind of person that a given civilization’ makes possible expands the explanation.
