Apart from Max Weber, whose name from the following can be associated with 'interpretative understanding"?

The correct answer is - Dilthey

Key Points

• Dilthey
  • Wilhelm Dilthey is often associated with the concept of interpretative understanding, which is a key element of the social sciences.
  • He argued that the human sciences require a different methodological approach than the natural sciences, emphasizing the need for Verstehen (understanding).
  • His work laid the foundation for the development of hermeneutics and interpretative methods in the social sciences.

Additional Information

• Max Weber
  • Max Weber is another key figure associated with interpretative sociology and the concept of Verstehen.
  • Weber's approach involves understanding social actions by interpreting the meanings and motives behind them.
• Herbert Spencer
  • Spencer is best known for his contributions to social evolution and the application of Darwinian principles to sociology.
  • He is not typically associated with interpretative methods.
• Auguste Comte
  • Comte is often regarded as the father of positivism, emphasizing empirical observation and scientific methods in sociology.
  • His approach contrasts with interpretative methods, focusing more on objective, observable phenomena.
• Karl Marx
  • Marx is known for his critical approach to sociology, focusing on class struggle and the materialist conception of history.
  • While his methods involve interpretation, they are not typically classified under interpretative understanding in the same way as Dilthey's or Weber's.