Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Law, Theology and Political science, science and research branch of Islamic Azad University
2 national research institute for science policy
Abstract
Objectivity is a crucial property (norm) in modern science, ensuring that scientific ideas are accessible, measurable, and truth-valued due to their focus on objective matters. However, achieving objectivity in the social sciences is more challenging than in the natural sciences, given the complexity of the phenomena they aim to explain, such as meaningful human actions. Approximately a century ago, Max Weber endeavored to demonstrate how social sciences could attain objectivity. According to Weber, "All knowledge of cultural reality, as may be seen, is always knowledge from particular points of view." In the social sciences, objectivity becomes meaningful when connected to specific perspectives chosen prior to scientific activities. Values, often not considered within the realm of scientific activity, address the issue of selecting the appropriate perspective. This article describes, analyzes, and compares Max Weber's two interpretations of objectivity. Although both interpretations regard Weber's objectivity as a norm, each considers a different and opposing type of norm. This article aims to illustrate how Weber's conception of objectivity can provide valuable insights into later debates concerning the relationship between the social and rational levels of science, by highlighting the differences between these two attitudes and interpretations.
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