Modern Capitalism and Weber
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Giddens (1971) discusses the thesis developed by Max Weber in his book The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, published in the form of two long articles in 1904 and 1905. In these articles, Weber tries to show the beginnings of capitalism and to relate this to the spirit of the Reformation, that period when Protestantism developed, breaking away from the control of the Catholic Church and asserting not only a religious independence but a different social view that would also have an influence in economic matters. Weber finds that there is a connection between being Protestant and being a business leader and an owner of capital--he says that statistics show this to be a fact in his own time and also to be a historical fact: "it can be shown that some of the early centers of capitalist development in the early part of the sixteenth century were strongly Protestant" (124). One explanation might be that the break with economic traditionalism in these centers produced a sloughing off of tradition in general and of religious institutions in their old form in particular. However, this interpretation cannot be supported by the facts. Giddens says the Reformation was not an escape from the controls of the Catholic Church and that Protestantism demanded a much higher degree of regulation of behavior. The connection between Protestantism and economic rationality must therefore be found in the character of Protestant beliefs.This is what Weber sought in his articles.
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There was nothing the individual could do to affect whether he or she was saved. It had been determined long before they were born. In terms of theology, this erased the possibility of salvation through the church and the sacraments, such as is true in Catholic doctrine. Weber says that this contributes to the fundamental antagonism to sensuous culture of all kinds, since no cultural element could be of any use toward salvation.
However, the idea that there was no external difference between the elect and the damned was under pressure on the level of pastoral care. It was thought necessary that the individual consider him or herself one of the chosen, and it was thought that "intense worldly activity" was the most appropriate means of developing and maintaining the necessary self-confidence to hold this view. Good works could not gain the individual election, but doing good works was seen as a "sign" of election, or a way of eliminating doubts about election. Therefore, labor in the material world is associated with the highest positive ethical evaluation. Under the doctrine of the calling, there is a premium upon the duty of the individual to approach his or her vocation in a methodical fashion and as the instrument of
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1740
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)
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