Analysis Quote by Max Weber
“Causal analysis provides absolutely no value judgment, and a value judgment is absolutely not a causal explanation.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Economy and Society, Max Weber, 1922
Causal analysis separates cause from moral judgment, so it cannot assign value.
In simple terms: Cause and value are distinct.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of causal claims.
Themes
philosophy
methodology
ethics
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
theoretical
explanatory
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy analysis
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
causation
value judgment
explanatory limits
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you distinguish cause from value?
- Can value judgments be inferred from data?
A Different Perspective
Causality cannot resolve moral questions.
![“[In] the realm of science, ... what we have achieved will be obsolete in ten, twenty or fifty years. That is the fate, indeed, that is the very meaning of scientific work. ... Every scientific "fulfillment" raises new "questions" and cries out to be surpassed rendered obsolete. Everyone who wishes…” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cff/max-weber-8418_accounts_in-the-realm-of-science-what-we-have-ach_126812.jpg)
![“The summum bonum of this [Puritan] ethic is the earning of more and more money combined with the strict avoidance of all enjoyment.” quote by Max Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8c4/max-weber-8418_avoidance_the-summum-bonum-of-this-puritan-ethic-i_205628.jpg)
