MARX AND WEBER ON HISTORY AND THE RISE OF CAPITALISM

This research paper outlines the theory of Karl Marx (1818-1884) of historical materialism, discusses the views of Max Weber (1864-1920) on the forces which shape history and compares and contrasts the views of Marx and Weber on the rise of capitalism. A fundamental premise of Marx is that economic or material factors determine the course and outcome of history (historical materialism or economic determinism). Weber viewed economics as one among many important factors which contributed to the evolution of human society. He laid considerable emphasis on the importance of charismatic leadership and new ideas as determinants of historical change. He saw the rise of capitalism as the psychological product of a particular set of beliefs which he labeled the Protestant ethic.

From his studies in Berlin as a young man, Marx was influenced by the ideas of German philosophers, especially Georg Hegel and Ludwig Feuerbach. Marx borrowed from Hegel the concept of history as a scientific, ineluctable process. From Feuerbach came the concept that essence of man's being was his economic circumstances, namely, as Feuerbach said, "a man is what he eats." In 1848, in The Communist Manifesto, Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote the following:

[I]n the social production of their material means of existence men enter into definite, necessary relations which are independent of their will, productive relationsh

. . .
rise of capitalism. As a sociologist, he proceeded empirically from his observations of the individual man, his atomic building block, and his social relationships and institutions. The reasons why man had conferred authority on the state, a "compulsory association," which had a monopoly on the "legitimate use of physical force as a means of domination within a territory," were as follows: (1) tradition "that which has always existed is valid;" (2) emotional attachment; (3) rational beliefs; and (4) law imposed consensually or by coercion (Weber, The Theory 130; Weber, Basic 81). Weber did not believe that economic factors were the only or even the primary cause of historical change. For Weber, "what people thought and believed was decisive" (Macrae 89). Weber believed that history followed cycles, periods of inspirational leadership which were followed by rationalization and codification in law of change, which was necessary to preserve political stability. At critical junctures, he stressed the importance of charismatic leadership, which he defined largely in spiritual terms: [N]atural leaders in distress have been holders of specific gifts of the body and spirit; and these gifts have been believed to be supernatural, not
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Approximate Word count = 2428
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)

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