TITLE:
Max Weber’s Methodology: The Method of Falsification Applied to Text Interpretations
AUTHORS:
Christian Etzrodt
KEYWORDS:
Max Weber, Methodology, Ideal-Types, Verification, Intuition, Falsification, Postulate of Logical Cosistency
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Philosophy,
Vol.4 No.3,
August
11,
2014
ABSTRACT: Text
interpretations are usually leading to ambiguous results. This is especially
the case for the interpretation of Max Weber’s methodology. I discuss Thomas
Burger’s interpretation that Weber applied Rickert’s methodology and that he
never developed his own standpoint regarding the methodological problems. In
contrast to this view, I propose an alternative interpretation based on the Methodenstreitin economics and the
philosophies of Kant and Rickert. In my opinion Weber offered a very unique
solution to an old philosophical problem, which resulted in a complete break
with the Platonic and Aristotelian tradition. His solution is what I call the
postulate of internal consistency (a logical consistent application of an arbitrary
scheme of interpretation). I will use Popper’s method of deductive
falsification to decide if Burger’s or my interpretation produces fewer
contradictions.