Citation

Hammersley M. Br. J. Sociol. 2014; 65(3): 492-501.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, London School of Economics and Political Science, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1468-4446.12085

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This paper is a response to a recent article dealing with the concept of value-free sociology by Donald Black. It argues that while a defence of Weber's position on the role of values in sociological research is necessary and important, what is offered by Black is counter-productive in important respects. This is because it encourages some of the misunderstandings that it is aimed at remedying and, even more importantly, offers a simplistic discussion of what are complex issues.

Keywords

Max Weber; objectivity; partisanship; Value freedom; value judgments; value neutrality