Equating methodological individualism with rational choice theory fails to distinguish two distinct methodological issues that Weber recognized as separate.

Nevertheless, as a result of Elster’s arguments, methodological individualism became synonymous in many quarters with the commitment to rational choice theory. Such an equation generally fails to distinguish what were for Weber two distinct methodological issues: the commitment to providing explanations at an action-theoretic level, and the specific model of rational action that one proposes to use at that level (i.e., the ideal type). There are multiple permutations. For instance, there is no r