Abstract
If the major purpose of sociological theory is directed to the understanding of the general laws of social phenomena, and the collection of empirical data by social research is, in the long run, considered to be one of the effective means to achieve this purpose, then it will be desired that consistent conceptualization of the logical qualities of social causation be reached.
This article is primarily devoted to the consideration of the methodology of Max Weber. Particular attention is given to his distinction between causality as a concept of individual causality relation to sociohistorical phenomena and the conception of general causality in natural sciences. It then attempts to evaluate the possibilities and limitations of applicability of the logic of social causation to such levels of phenomena as “succession” and “co-existence”, and “microcosm” and “macrocosm”. The main conclusions are :
1) The applicability of logic of causality is fundamentally identical regardless of objects. And the distinction of individuality and generality of causality is simply matter of degree based on the difference of levels of application.
2) The conception of causality of “co-existent” and “microcosmic” social phenomena requires the conception of “successive” and “macroscosmic” level of causality as its logical preliminary, and the former can play a role of verification for the latter only in this limited sense.
3) The conception of “successive” and “macrocosmic” causality is, in the long run, that of causation based on the law of evolution in the total social system.
4) The conception of “microcosmic” and “co-existent” causality involves the conception of various derived conditions which differ in importance because of the fundamental causal law.
5) The subjective elements in social phenomena function by playing a role as secondary drives which accompany the movement of objective conditions 'controlling social phenomena.
