Rationality and Western Societal Development Max Weber’s Concept of Europe

Abstract

Th roughout the 20th century, Max Weber’s sociological views had a highly profound impact on almost all fi elds of historical-social sciences. His viewpoints enriched the ways of historical interpretation with numerous valuable insights. Above all, Weber intended to present the features of Western capitalism. However, his researches also tackled social and cultural components of modern age capitalist relations, as well as societies outside Europe. In the focal point of his way of thinking one can fi nd the notion of „rationality”, and accordingly, Weber grasped the formation of modern societies with the gradual development of rationality. In his historical analyses, Weber attempted to unveil the early forms of rationalistic endeavours in ancient and medieval societies by comparing the characteristics of „Western” and „Eastern” ways of development. Basically, Weber’s image of Europe featured the historical morphology of rationality.