Explores the contributions to interpretive sociology of major Continental social theorists and examines the ways in which these individuals enrich our understanding of the art of being human.

Interpretive sociology involves the consideration of not only sense evidence, but also of meanings, affects, and other subjective phenomena. Sociologists and social philosophers have attempted to understand social behavior through observable interaction and wellsprings of behavior. This book is dedicated to a critical analysis of these approaches, from the positivist hermeneutics of Emilio Betti to the non-rational ethics of Max Scheler. Guided by a general model of social scientific activity developed in the introduction, it carefully explores the rich diversity of interpretive positions.