Max Weber

Record year1904

summaryDevelops the methodology of interpretive sociology, ideal types, and value relevance.

M rationaleThis method coordinates interpretation, causation, and concept construction across research objects, rated M6.0 as general social science method. Minor variations in original/translation affect term confidence, not directly discounting M.

attribution rationaleWeber 0.48; explicit methodological antecedents 0.26; actual debate participation 0.10; editorial translation adoption 0.09; unresolved 0.07. No proven transmission to unnamed successors or parallel figures receives hard points.

overlap boundaryFrom around 1904 to 1917, linked the understanding of the meaning of social action with causal explanation, constructed analytical objects through ideal types, and discussed the methodology of value relevance/value freedom. Ideal types are not classifications of reality or policy prescriptions; all later social science methods are excluded.

Evidence gapsThe evolution of terminology across different German texts and translations awaits calibration.

Record year1921

summaryThe posthumously published Economy and Society brings together the comparative framework for social action, domination, law, and bureaucracy; Marianne Weber's editorial role should be retained separately.

M rationaleA reusable comparative framework across multiple institutional domains, rated M5.8; incompleteness and the impossibility of unambiguous reconstruction of structure are boundaries of use of the result itself, not mere data discount.

attribution rationaleWeber's manuscripts 0.34; Marianne's posthumous editing 0.16; intellectual antecedents 0.18; materials and networks 0.10; later collation and translation 0.12; unresolved structure 0.10.

overlap boundaryThe comparative framework on social action, domination, religion, law, bureaucracy, charisma, city, and political community in the unfinished manuscripts and the posthumous versions of 1921 to 1922, valued as one book-problem cluster. The current chapter structure, later institutions, and all sociological theories are excluded.

Evidence gapsThe calibration of manuscripts, ordering, translations, and the boundary of Marianne's editing must be done according to the Gesamtausgabe.

Record year1904

summaryProposed the Protestant ethic thesis and developed the problem-set of comparative sociology of religion; strong causal interpretation faces empirical and historical controversy.

M rationaleAs a research approach incorporating cultural factors into socioeconomic explanation, it has general methodological value; its core empirical thesis has long been disputed, and evidence for the strong causal reading is insufficient, which is an inseparable limitation of the achievement, hence net boundary M4.8. Not downgraded for not reading German.

attribution rationaleWeber 0.38; problem and theoretical prior development 0.25; historical source material 0.10; actual critical controversy 0.12; dissemination 0.08; unresolved 0.07. Later commentators are pooled only in their actual critical/testing role.

overlap boundaryThe 1904 to 1905 articles and subsequent comparative studies, taking as the problem the elective affinity between ascetic Protestant ethics and the spirit of modern capitalism, and extending the socioeconomic explanation of cultural-religious factors. Must not be rewritten as Protestantism as a single cause of capitalism.

Evidence gapsNeed to compare against the German original text and key rebuttals to delimit the validity of each empirical proposition.

Record year1919

summaryLimited to the two vocation lectures published in 1919 as texts of responsibility ethics for the public; does not repeat general social science method and domination theory, and does not incorporate all political participation. 1919 is the publication year, not indicating that both lectures were delivered in that year.

M rationaleTwo public professional ethics texts with concrete deliverables, rated M3.8 for bounded knowledge dissemination and ethical argumentation; the value of general social science methods is already counted in other outputs.

attribution rationaleWeber lectures and texts 65%, organizational publication 20%, prior development of ethical controversies 10%, unresolved 5%; no retroactive attribution of later political actions.

overlap boundaryLimited to the two vocation lectures published in 1919 as texts of responsibility ethics for the public; does not repeat general social science method and domination theory, and does not incorporate all political participation. 1919 is the publication year, not indicating that both lectures were delivered in that year.

Evidence gapsSpecific audiences and dissemination effects, organizational publication shares pending detailed verification; actual consequences of independent political activities listed separately as gaps.