Final answer:
The German word for 'understanding' or 'insight' in intellectual work is 'Verstehen,' emphasizing deep comprehension from an insider's perspective, notably used by Weber and Dilthey in sociology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The German word for 'understanding' or 'insight' in the context of intellectual work is Verstehen. This term was championed by sociologists like Max Weber and Wilhelm Dilthey to express the importance of understanding cultures, societies, or groups from an insider's perspective. Weber emphasized the challenges of using scientific methods to predict group behavior due to the influence of culture and cultural biases of researchers. In essence, Verstehen represents a deep comprehension of a social world by striving to see things from the viewpoint of someone within that social sphere. This term relates to a broad range of intellectual disciplines, including philosophy, sociology, and anthropology, all of which value the depth of understanding and the ability to interpret and evaluate underneath the surface level appearance of cultural phenomena.