Trends in General Systems Theory

easily the most intensive and carefully documented commentary upon Weber's methodological writings to appear in English; it contains some useful material upon the philosophical background to Weber's essays-a background which has generally been only poorly known by English-speaking writers; it refers in detail to essays which have remained untranslated, notably the critiques of Roscher and Knies; and, finally, it can serve as a helpful interpretative aid for the reader who may be at times-or frequently-baffled by the turgid density and the less than elegant literary style of the originals. But I also have some reservations about the usefulness of the author's endeavours.