Abstract

Max Weber, in writing of "an unbroken unity in the case of Chinese thought," was conveying the 'knowledge' or understanding which his work generated. Yet, knowledge of Weber's contribution to empirical knowledge of the origins of Chinese thought or of Weber's raising empirical sociology to the level of a science does not exist in the English speaking world. American sociology is virtually ignorant of Weber's accomplishment. This study investigates Max Weber's enigmatic relationship to American sociology in preparation for an investigation of the process whereby Weber himself came to such knowledge. ;Max Weber is usually thought of as only a Theorist. The essay also develops a refutation of that conviction. For if one studies Weber's writings from the standpoint of trying to understand the actual course of events that led to his decision to investigate the existence of the military organization of the bachelor house in China and from that decision to knowledge of the unbroken unity that Chinese thought represents, one finds that Weber makes an important contribution to empirical knowledge of the origins of Chinese thought. One also learns of the bearing of material factors as well as religious and secular ideas on this development