Hoe anti-positivistisch was Max Weber in zijn sociaal-empirisch onderzoek?

Samenvatting

Max Weber's conception of sociology, stressing Verstehen & Idealtypen, is often regarded as a starting point for an alternative, antipositivist social science. Examined is his so-called social-empirical research, eg, extensive studies of land laborers & factory workers. Antipositivism is judged based on several criteria, eg, positivist notions of objectivity, intersubjectivity, quantification, & universality. Also investigated is whether Weber took account of the interpretation ladenness of social reality & whether he held the idea that social phenomena are reducible to biological or psychological characteristics. It is concluded that Weber was antipositivist only to a small degree. Modified HA.