Max Weber and the Empirical Historical Inquiry

Resumen

Max Weber is a worldwide respected sociologist, but there are other ways to approach and
appreciate his oeuvre, especially in historical science. He has been seen as the last German-
speaking polyhistor, as the founding father of historical cultural studies, and even as the
forerunner of a problem-focused historiography. At the same time, history provides him
with an almost inexhaustible reservoir of single data. Weber demonstrates what about data
is scientifically interesting and how to make use of it for dealing with scientific questions.
My approach in this essay will be as follows: Firstly, I will identify Weber’s methodological
reflections about how to deal with empirical-historical reality. Secondly, I will show how Weber
embraces history with special focus on his sociology of domination – a centerpiece of Economy
and Society. Finally, I will shortly explore the possibilities of adapting Weber’s main theses to
present-day historical sciences.