Gaurav KumarAIR 34 · CSE 2017 · 149 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
According to Weber, the reality is vast, unorganized, dichotomous and chaotic. Thus sociology should go for interpretative understanding of empirical realities by constructing ideal types.
Body · points
(1) The theory of Positivism (Durkheim) and historical materialism (Marx) are overglorifying facts and theories respectively. Ideal type tries to establish a balance between the theories and facts in sociology.
(2) Ideal type is not a philosophical romanticism rather a sociological necessity since reality is dynamic.
(3) It is a mental construct used in comparative analysis of varied realities.
(4) It is not ideal in conceptual sense of term rather in logical sense of term as it is not an absolute type, it provides only approximate type acting as guide to social research.
(5) It maintains value neutrality and trying to comprehend reality by studying its essence.
Close · a summary
Thus ideal type is a lower level abstraction than mega theories and important tool for sociological research.