Rationality as an ideal-type and understandability

Toward a reconsideration of Max Weber's action theory

Abstract

Weber's concept of ideal-types is an instrument with which reality is compared and surveyed. But if ideal-types are used to formulate “ideas, ” such as religious ethics, how can the reality itself be recognized? This paper points out that Weber's method of understanding (Verstehen) depends on using “Richtigkeitstypus” as an ideal-type and, therefore, makes it uncertain for the observer of actions to understand real subjective meanings themselves. Weber claims that even actions which the acter himself is not fully conscious of could be rationally understood by the obserber because Weber is aware of the problem that modern society is so complex that people can act without knowing original meanings with which institutions were constructed.