Editing Talcott Parsons (section)

===University of Heidelberg===
In June, Parsons went on to the [[University of Heidelberg]], where he received his PhD in sociology and economics in 1927. At Heidelberg, he worked with [[Alfred Weber]], [[Max Weber]]'s brother; [[Edgar Salin]], his dissertation adviser; Emil Lederer; and [[Karl Mannheim]]. He was examined on Kant's ''[[Critique of Pure Reason]]'' by the philosopher [[Karl Jaspers]].<ref>Alexander Stingl, ''Between Discursivity and Sensus Communis: Kant, Kantianism and the Social Media Theory of Talcott Parsons''. Inaugural-Dissertation, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, edited for publication, OPUS Erlangen-Nürnberg University Press, 2008.
*  Alexander I. Stingl, '' Anthropos' Scaffoldings: Studies in the Coevolution of Sociology, Biology, Medicine, and Philosophy. (with a foreword by Sal Restivo)'' forthcoming.</ref> At Heidelberg, Parsons was also examined by Willy Andreas on the French Revolution. Parsons wrote his [[Dr. Phil.]] thesis on ''The Concept of Capitalism in the Recent German Literature'', with his main focus on the work of [[Werner Sombart]] and Weber. It was clear from his discussion that he rejected Sombart's quasi-idealistic views and supported Weber's attempt to strike a balance between [[historicism]], [[idealism]] and [[neo-Kantianism]].

The most crucial encounter for Parsons at Heidelberg was with the work of Max Weber about whom he had never heard before. Weber became tremendously important for Parsons because his upbringing with a liberal but strongly-religious father had made the question of the role of culture and religion in the basic processes of world history a persistent puzzle in his mind. Weber was the first scholar who truly provided Parsons with a compelling theoretical "answer" to the question.

Parsons decided to translate Weber's work into English and approached [[Marianne Weber]], Weber's widow. Parsons would eventually translate several of Weber's works.<ref>Talcott Parsons, "The Circumstances of My Encounter with Max Weber" in Robert K. Merton & Matilda White Riley (eds.) ''Sociological Traditions from Generation to Generation.'' Norwood, NJ.: Ablex, 1980.</ref><ref>Uta Gerhardt, "Much More than a Mere Translation Talcott Parsons' Translation into English of Max Weber's Protestantische Ethik und der Geist der Kapitalismus: An Essay in Intellectual History." ''The Canadian Journal of Sociology.'' Vol.32. No.1. Winter 2007. pp. 41–62.</ref> His time in Heidelberg had him invited by Marianne Weber to "sociological teas", which were study group meetings that she held in the library room of her and Max's old apartment. One scholar that Parsons met at Heidelberg who shared his enthusiasm for Weber was Alexander von Schelting. Parsons later wrote a review article on von Schelting's book on Weber.<ref>Talcott Parsons, "Review of Max Webers Wissenschaftslehre, by Alexander von Schelting," ''American Sociological Review'' vol.1. 1936: 675–81.</ref> Generally, Parsons read extensively in religious literature, especially works focusing on the sociology of religion. One scholar who became especially important for Parsons was Ernst D. Troeltsch. Parsons also read widely on [[Calvinism]]. His reading included the work of Emile Doumerque,<ref>Emile Doumerque, ''Jean Calvin: Les hommes et les choses de son temps,'' 7 volumes. Lausanne, 1899–1927.</ref> Eugéne Choisy, and Henri Hauser.