Understanding or Sentiments? An Approach to the Link between Factual Judgments and Value Judgments in Hermann Heller through Max Weber’s Methodology

Abstract

The aimoft his article is to research the methodological link between factual judgments and value judgments in Heller through Weber’s work. We argue that in Heller’s conception exists a double positioning in front of Weber’s methodology. On the one hand, we can see a break with the epistemological assumptions that inform the distinction between facts and values. On the other hand, we can see a continuity through the establishment of intellectual honesty as a scientific duty. Through this concern of subject’s behaviour, Heller and Weber can argue, despite of different theoretical grounds, a fundamental difference between statements that are addressed to the “understanding” and aimed to find the empirical truth, and statements that are
addressed to the “sentiments” and aimed to movethe men’s will.