ABSTRACT
This chapter uses four case studies to show how justificationist epistemology has contributed to the theories of human action and society. The central argument is that the concept of ‘rationality’ originates in the meaning of objective knowledge, which means that epistemology contributes to the theory of society through ideal types of rational action. Chapter 6 shows that the justificatory nature of the ideal type of rational action in case studies of classical and modern sociology has prevented the theory of society from answering questions regarding social order and its change, thus preparing the ground for the application of non-justificationism and the philosophy of critical rationalism for reformulation of the theory of society.
