Question

Max Weber's theories are often considered to be the main foundation for the later development of the Symbolic Interactionist paradigm. This is because, unlike his contemporaries (Durkheim and Marx), he believed that when studying society theorists should:
Answers:
View interactions as ways of forming social solidarity in society overall

Consider the roles of conflict between social groups as a means to spur social change in society

Recognize that there are external, objective forces at work

Utilize verstehen (understanding) in order to subjectively understand social interactions

Use empirical facts and statistics in order to best understand social patterns and interactions

Answer 1

Answer:

Utilize verstehen (understanding) in order to subjectively understand social interactions

Explanation:

Max Weber in his symbolic interaction theory suggested that, in order to understand particular society very well, theorist should consider peculiar factors that drives the society, a viewed he termed as Verstehen which is considered a fundamental aspect of Sociology.

The popular saying that "He walks the shoe knows where it pinches" best explain his view. Thus, to have a better understanding or explanation of a society, theorists should put themselves in the position of such people rather than attributes same factors to explain different people or society. In furtherance, Weber, tried to justify this assertion by using the concept of Rationalization, a way of taking decisions based on present or available facts and figures rather than the set of beliefs of people in the past, to explain how the Western world moves away from the arhaic method of reasoning. For example, a shift from how societies were governed in the past, by moving away from monarchy to democracy, while also changing from Socialism to Capitalism.

In essence, he believed that sociology theorists should not just study and analyze a society, but also empathetically understand the individual in the society.