Max Weber e l'identità europea

Abstract

The paper analyzes the Weberian conception of modernity, capitalism, Europe and the West. Through the comparison with India, China and the Islamic civilization Weber studies the Eu-ropean identity, its uniqueness. Weber’s conception has at-tracted much criticism. In this essay the critiques of Shmuel N. Eisenstadt and Jacq Goody are discussed. Neither however, in our view has much legitimacy: Eisenstadt, in fact, follows We-ber’s approach while Goody rejects Weber’s eurocentrism and his comparative methodology. According to Goody, it would be wrong to look for differences and the uniqueness of civiliza-tion. Instead, what is common to all of them should be sought. In actual fact, Weber studies the uniqueness of the West and of Europe and, at the same time, the uniqueness of China or India. The similarities and differences among civilizations are the goals of scientific knowledge. In this sense, Weber’s methodo-logical teaching is still relevant today.