Abstracts

Max Weber Studies Vol. 2 No. 1 (November 2001): 33-40

Issues of Language and Translation in Max Weber's Protestant Ethic Writings

Gordon C. Wells

The author previews the translation by Peter Baehr and himself, due for publication early in 2002, and preceded by a substantial Editors’ Introduction, of the early (1905) versions of Max Weber’s celebrated essay on The Protestant Ethic, together with other related writings by Weber, in particular his robust defence of his thesis in response to critical articles by Fischer and Rachfahl. Reasons for the selection are given. Problems of terminology and syntax encountered by the translators are discussed, and literary and philosophical overtones in the writing are highlighted. Finally, the author presents samples of the translation itself.