Max Weber on Causal Analysis,Interpretation, and Comparison

Max Weber's methodological writings offered a model of singular causal analysis that anticipated key elements of contemporary Anglo‐American philosophy of the social and cultural sciences. The model accurately portrayed crucial steps and dimensions of causal reasoning in these disciplines, outlining a dynamic and probabilistic conception of historical processes, counterfactual reasoning, and comparison as a substitute for counterfactual argument. Above all, Weber recognized the interpretation of human actions as a subcategory of causal analysis, in which the agents‘ visions of desired outcomes, together with their beliefs about how to bring them about, cause them to act as they do.     

The Aral Sea Problem and its Solution

A hydrogeologist suggests that nine-tenths of the present stream flow into the Aral Sea can be diverted for other purposes without causing the sea to dry up. The diversion would cause the sea level to drop by 12 meters, where it would stabilize because of a greater intake of subsurface runoff resulting from an increased artesian pressure differential, and because the draining of flooded shore areas and the drying up of reed growths will make more water available through savings in evaporation and transpiration.     

古代丝绸的老化及其保护

古丝绸质弱,酸、碱、盐和霉菌的侵蚀,光、热作用等诸多因素均可导致丝绸的老化和受损。理论和实践证明,清洗、防蛀、紫外线防护是古代丝织品保护的三种有效的方法。     

巴布扎布匪帮问题之解决

剿灭巴布扎布匪帮是《中俄蒙协约》签订后内外蒙古地区历史上的重要事件。本论述了1915-1916年中国政府军剿灭巴布扎布匪帮的经过,论述了中国政府、俄国政府、外蒙古官府就此问题所进行的一系列交涉。     

农村税费改革存在的问题及其消解途径

以安徽省近两年来的试点情况来看,税费改革的积极意义是毋庸置疑的,但这期间也暴露出一些值得深思的问题。一是乡、村两级组织收入大幅下降、运转困难,债务负担沉重、难以消解;二是农村教育及公益事业的发展将受到影响;三是税负公平问题。在分析这些问题的基础上,作者提出了一些对策性的思考。     

资本主义精神：新教伦理、个人主义还是“民族主义”

韦伯、桑巴特和托尼对资本主义精神的理解各不相同。韦伯突出宗教改革对资本主义兴起的意义,重视禁欲主义、勤奋、节俭等新教伦理;桑巴特强调个人对财富和享乐的追求,甚至认为资本主义产生于奢侈。但他们都对资本主义的恶性发展和精神危机表示忧虑。托尼同样担忧资本主义活动中道德伦理的缺失,认为宗教冷淡和个人主义的发展会带来恶果。格林菲尔德以某种“集体意识形态”替代韦伯命题中的个体意识,反对用个人主义解释资本主义。但她以“英格兰民族主义”为资本主义兴起与持续发展动因的论述,既不能解释资本主义的兴起,也不符合资本主义发展的历史。     

Weber and Marshall on the State

The conventional understanding of Weber's discussion of state legitimacy and Marshall's treatment of citizenship and social class are partial and distorted. Rather than endorse the view that the modern state is based on legal‐rational legitimacy Weber's analysis shows that the state in class society is without legitimacy and that its political domination is based on coercion and manipulation. While Marshall does argue that the expansion of citizenship rights tend to reduce aspects of class inequality he also shows that the working class can use the legal and other advantages of ‘industrial citizenship’ to improve the conditions of its struggle with capital. Our understanding of state mediation is improved by an appreciation of Weber's and Marshall's full contributions to a consideration of these matters, even though their positions do contain certain limitations.