Why Weber? The German history of everyday life in search of a methodological basis

Abstract

The article analyzes reasons of the M. Weber’s works influence on supporters of the history of everyday life in Germany and examines works impact on the development of the methodology for the German history of everyday life. H. Medick, A. Ludke and their colleagues borrowed the approach of M. Weber to “ideal types” of behavior classification in order to empirically check the theory on the local material. The focus was the work “The Protestant ethics and the spirit of capitalism”, because that project of protoindustrialization study was consistent with the search of the Protestant ethics influence on the formation of capitalism. An appeal to the M. Weber’s authority served the opposition against the attacks of supporters of traditional social history.