Max Weber The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism
The Social Symptoms of Cultural Distress Why do we work so hard? What is irrational about this spirit of capitalism?
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 1 - Religious affiliation and social stratification Capitalism developed in Calvinist Protestant countries Protestants have demonstrated a specific tendency toward economic rationalism. (7)
KEY TERM: Calvinism Branch of Christianity bearing the name of John Calvin. Summarized by Five Points. Emphasizes predestination and total depravity. Also called the Reformed tradition.
KEY TERM: Rationalization The process where an increasing number of social actions become based on considerations of efficiency or calculation rather than on motivations derived from morality, emotion, custom, or tradition. In Calvinism action was molded into a consistent, methodical organization of his life as a whole. (71)
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 2 The spirit of capitalism the idea of the duty of the individual to increase his wealth, which is assumed to be a selfdefined interest in itself. an ethically-oriented maxim for the organization of life. Capitalism vs. modern capitalism Collective mind frame The problem of legitimation Shift from traditional mind frame to new spirit of capitalism Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
KEY TERM: Modern Capitalism Capitalism exchange of goods calculations of profit and loss Has existed in civilizations all over the globe from ancient times Modern Capitalism Free exchange of goods in markets Separation of business activity from household activity Sophisticated bookkeeping methods Rational (systematic) organization of work Profit pursued in regular and continuous fashion Modern economic ethic: An ethos or frame of mind that legitimates and provides the motivation for the rigorous organization of work
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 3 Luther s conception of the calling Martin Luther (1483-1546) Faith and grace God predestines to whom grace should be given calling: one s task is given by God (39) the fulfillment of duty in vocational callings became viewed as the highest expression that moral activity could assume. (39)
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 4 The religious foundations of this-worldly asceticism Calvinism Predestination and the Elect Motivation to work very hard Inscrutable will of God Good works = manifestation of God s favor
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 4 The religious foundations of this-worldly asceticism Philipp Jkob Spener (1635-1705) Preoccupied with the practice of Christian living Establishing the invisible church of the elect Intensified ascetic practices Pietism
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 4 The religious foundations of this-worldly asceticism John Wesley (1703-1791) Systematic regulation of days Methodically inducing conversion Rational struggle for perfection Methodism
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 4 The religious foundations of this-worldly asceticism Baptist Sects Two English Separatists, John Smyth (1570-1612) and Thomas Helwys (1550-1616) Attitude of waiting and listening for revelations from God Overcoming impulse and irrationality Careful and deliberate weighing of courses of action
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism CH. 5 Asceticism and the spirit of capitalism Value of time management Work = Calling, a spiritual end in itself Division of labor eliminated idleness Iron Cage: The spirit of capitalism would acquire a life of its own, no longer needing the worldly asceticism to sustain itself
KEY TERM: Asceticism The doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by practicing selfdenial
KEY TERM: Iron Cage The social system trapping individuals in systems based on efficiency, rational calculation and hard work. the capitalist economic order of today is a vast cosmos into which a person is born. It simply exists, to each person, as a factually unalterable casing in which he or she must live. (18)
Summary of the Argument Protestant ascetism created the psychological motivation that arose out of the conception of work as a calling and as the means best suited for the devout to become certain of their state of salvation. (121) Doctrine of predestination Inability to know whether one was one of the Elect à ANXIETY Calling in life (work) is the highest moral act Work really hard because worldly success is a sign of God s favor à STRONG WORK HABITS Thrift and avoiding a life of luxury à ACCUMULATION OF CAPITAL à REINVESTMENT INTO BUSINESS à CAPITALISM AND ITS INSTITUTIONS