Max Weber's Verstehen

Abstract

WEBER, like all other scholars in social science who are justifiably dignified with label great, was concerned with construction of a conceptual scheme oriented toward explanation of nature and determinants of social conduct. Thus, Weber conceived of sociology as science with task of the interpretive understanding of social action in order thereby arrive at a causal explanation of its course and effects. 1 Social action, Weber, meant action on part of individuals participating in social relationships. According Weber, interpretative sociology considers individual and his actions as basic social unit, and he felt that task of sociology was to reduce [certain categories of human interaction] 'understandable' 2 Social action, in Weberian sense, distinguished from mere behavior. Action which oriented toward inanimate objects, for example, does not qualify. Action social if, and then only in so far as, it takes account of behavior of someone else. Further, action involves more than mere contact of individuals. Being jostled about by people in a crowded department store does not, according Weber, constitute social action. Action of a social character is confined cases where actor's behavior meaningfully oriented that of others. In short, behavior which intentional, and which oriented toward behavior of other human beings qualifies as social behavior.5 Intentional behavior, meaningful behavior, and subjectively understandable behavior are, all three, synonymous with regard