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Max Weber (1864–1920) — was a German sociologist and philosopher. He had a significant influence on sociological theory, sociological research, and the discipline of sociology itself. Along with Émile Durkheim and Karl Marx, he is often regarded as one of the founding figures of sociology. He held professorships in Berlin, Freiburg, Heidelberg, and Munich.
The scope of Max Weber's scholarly work was remarkably broad. He is considered a pioneer of the interdisciplinary approach and was the author of numerous works. His writings cover the history of economic and social forms, religion and the socio-economic structure of society, as well as the logic and methodology of the social sciences.
Weber believed that the goal of sociology is the “understanding of social action”—in other words, understanding why people behave the way they do. Unlike positivists (such as Auguste Comte), Weber emphasized the interpretation of the meanings individuals assign to their actions.
Weber relied on a Kantian framework, distinguishing between: