<P> At the turn of the 20th century the first generation of German sociologists formally introduced methodological anti-positivism , proposing that research should concentrate on human cultural norms , values , symbols , and social processes viewed from a resolutely subjective perspective . Max Weber argued that sociology may be loosely described as a science as it is able to identify causal relationships of human `` social action '' -- especially among `` ideal types '' , or hypothetical simplifications of complex social phenomena . As a non-positivist , however , Weber sought relationships that are not as `` historical , invariant , or generalisable '' as those pursued by natural scientists . Fellow German sociologist , Ferdinand Tönnies , theorized on two crucial abstract concepts with his work on `` Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft '' ( lit . community and society ) . Tönnies marked a sharp line between the realm of concepts and the reality of social action : the first must be treated axiomatically and in a deductive way ( `` pure sociology '' ) , whereas the second empirically and inductively ( `` applied sociology '' ) . </P>
<P> At the turn of the 20th century the first generation of German sociologists formally introduced methodological anti-positivism , proposing that research should concentrate on human cultural norms , values , symbols , and social processes viewed from a resolutely subjective perspective . Max Weber argued that sociology may be loosely described as a science as it is able to identify causal relationships of human `` social action '' -- especially among `` ideal types '' , or hypothetical simplifications of complex social phenomena . As a non-positivist , however , Weber sought relationships that are not as `` historical , invariant , or generalisable '' as those pursued by natural scientists . Fellow German sociologist , Ferdinand Tönnies , theorized on two crucial abstract concepts with his work on `` Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft '' ( lit . community and society ) . Tönnies marked a sharp line between the realm of concepts and the reality of social action : the first must be treated axiomatically and in a deductive way ( `` pure sociology '' ) , whereas the second empirically and inductively ( `` applied sociology '' ) . </P>
who introduced the cocept of ideal type in sociology
who introduced the cocept of ideal type in sociology
Max Weber
Max Weber