Abstract: The time for German sociology to be established coincides with the time when the classical natural science was at its peak. Under the influence of scientism, determinism of causal monism prevailed in social sciences, especially in sociology. In order to change this situation, Max Weber introduced “value analysis” to sociology research and established two approaches: causal analysis and meaning comprehending. This not only made up for the gap in methodology, but also formed social dynamics in the sense of cultural significance. With this method, eventually Weber reasonably explained cultural differences between the Western European regions, Western and Eastern. Particularly, his research also related to the field of “Axial Age” civilizations or “Axial Civilizations.” Although he didn’t create these terms or concepts (that were first brought up by Karl Jaspers and Shmuel Noah Eisenstadt, respectively), he mentioned “prophetic age” in his Economy and Society. And more importantly, he had already fully covered the points in this field with his vision, idea and research. To Weber, interests in reality (economic interests in particular) directly govern people’s conductthat is regarded as a basic factor of social change; yet in the meanwhile he stressed that the “world images”(Weltbildes) created by “ideas” would have a directive effect on human action. Precisely according to this way of thinking in research, Weber focused on analyzing and explaining the great importance of the following factors in social change: value orientation and its relevant economic mentality, the basic tension between transcendental vision and mundane orders, and the capacity of new type of intellectual elites for reflexivity and criticism.

Key words: cultural tension, mentality, social dynamics, value analysis