被误读的韦伯社会学认识论:理解范式诸因素及其内部联系

The Misreading of Weber's Sociological Epistemology:Elements and Their Inherent Connections of Interpretive Paradigm

马克思·韦伯在社会学领域一直有重大且深远的影响。但是,学界长久以来将注意力放在韦伯社会学的本体上,忽视或误读作为其认识论的理解社会学范式。本文针对其社会学认识论,强调并深入解析"情势因果律""理性化过程""方法论理解"和"理想型"等理解范式的核心因素及其内在理论联系,从重要性和科学性两方面厘清了对此的误读,回答了对其的质疑。不同于杜尔凯姆式将社会看作"物",将社会现象看作"社会事实"的观点,韦伯理解范式从个体及活动的众多关系/联系出发,强调了心理因素、意图和价值等在构建社会时的重要性。区别于整体论或结构功能主义,理解社会学根据广义的"理性化过程",以"理解"为方式把握某一具体情境中诸因素的相互影响和内在因果联系,并建立一种"理想型"的认识。如今,社会学研究越来越强调社会化过程中的联系、沟通、信任等因素。对韦伯理解范式的厘清和解析无疑可以为此提供宝贵的理论财富。我们可以借此突破传统的面向功能与整合的社会研究,转而思考吸引、联想、共生下的沟通与和谐的"社会性"课题。

The paradigm of Max Weber＇s interpretive sociology has been ignored or misread during a long period. This article profoundly examines its epistemological elements, such as ＂conjoncturel＂ causali- ty, ＂the process of rationalization＂, ＂methodological understanding＂, and ＂ideal-type＂, and explores their internal linkages. Our analyses justify the significance and scientificalness of Weber＇s theory and thus dis- approve the doubts about it. Weber declines Durkheim＇s holism which considers the society as ＂chose＂ and refers to social phenomena as ＂fait social＂. Departing from individuals＇ and their activities＇ mutual relations/linkage, Weber＇s paradigm underlines the importance of psychology, sense, and value to the con- struction of society. The interpretative sociology distinguishes itself from holist and structuralist functional- ist sociology. Based on the process of rationalization in a broad sense, it adopts ＂understanding＂ as the method to capture the interrelations and inherent causalities of elements in a given circumstance, so as to establish the knowledge of ＂ideal-type＂. This paper shows that Weber＇s interpretive sociology still plays an essential role in the development of contemporary sociology. Through analyzing epistemological ele- ments and their intrinsic interrelations, we can be fully conscious of the implication of conjuncture, empa- thy and typology in sociological research. Therefore, the interpretative sociology is substantially distinct from the holism and the functionalism. Today, the sociological research attaches great importance to vari- ous elements in the ＂process of rationalization＂, i.e., ＂social linkages＂, ＂communication＂ and ＂social trust＂. Weber＇s theory provides today＇s sociological research a fountain of theoretical demarche, which permits us to surmount the traditional research that focuses on social functions and integrations. This de- marche thus allows extending our research to the communicational and harmonious ＂societal＂ issues under the inter-attractive, imaginary and symbiotic circumstances.