《weber objectivity》.pdf

The Essential Weber A reader Edited by Sam Whimster Routledge R Taylor Francis Group LONDON AND NEW YORK 358 Methodology of social sciences political group, actual monopolistic rulership of a given territory was not essential, and is not at all so today. This institutional character, especially 22 The objectivity of knowledge the circumstance that one is born into a church, distinguishes a church in social science and social from a sect, whose characteristic feature is that of an association, and admits on a personal basis only those who are religiously qualified. policy The first question posed to a new social science journal (especially one directed to social policy), or a new editorial board, concerns its tendency. We too find this question unavoidable, and following on from the remarks already made in the Geleitwort we present here a more systematic treatment of the issues. This gives us an opportunity to shed light on the specific char- acter of what we understand as social scientific work in a variety o f