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Max weber's book of protestantism ethics and spirit of capitalism
1. Protestant ethics and spirit of
capitalism
A review paper on Max Weber book of Protestantism
ethics and spirit of capitalism
By:Efa Tadesse Debele
Department of Sociology, Addis Ababa University
February 15, 2019
3. Part I
1.The problem
1.1. Religious Affiliation and Social Stratification
Why protestants overwhelming in Business?
Educational empathy and religious influence
Religious background and choice of occupation
Other world ascetic and worldly ascetic
Ethics of eat well or sleep well
Mammonism-see wealth as evil
Protestantism-spirit of diligence, progress,
discipline,etc
4. Part I continued
2.The spirit of capitalism
philosophy of ‘They make tallow out of cattle and money
out of men’’, Ferdinand Kurnberger
value of credit and increment of capital
infraction is not foolishness but also forgetfulness of duty
It is ethos
Western European are main target
Other parts of world lack this ethos
Moral attitudes –utilitarianism; honest, credit,
punctuality, industrious, frugality,etc
5. Part I continued
making money not for hedonistic
it is from religious idea ’’calvinistic’’ calling
Economic acquisition as ultimate goal
Occidental standard
profit making
Rationalism philosophy
capitalistic culture
3.Luther’s conception of the calling
calling-fulfillment of duty by individual in the worldly
affairs
religious influence economic life
religious forces led to cultural and economic development
6. Part II. 1.The practical ethics of the ascetic branches of
protestantism
1.1. The religious foundations of worldly asceticism
Four asceticisms/Puritanism
a.Calvinism
b.Pietism
c.Methodism
d.Sects grow out of baptist movement
7. Part II continued
1. Calvinism
predestination is its dogma
either chosen/saved or damned-lead to uncertainty
Addressing questions of salvation
Either to consider oneself chosen or to combat devils
temptation
to attain grace by struggle of daily life
rationalization of world and elimination of magic
But contrary to plan less, otherworldliness, irrational
self –torture
8. Part II continued
2. Pietism
freed from all temptations
intensified asceticism
enjoy blissfulness of community with God in this life
make sure grace via daily living
strict control in the worldly calling
the penetration of methodically controlled and
supervised ascetic conduct into the non-calvinistic
denominations
signs of grace by methodically living
9. Part II continued
3. Methodism
methodical, systematic way of attaining a grace
self evident feeling , righteous conduct
conduct as sign of rebirth
aspiration to higher life
emotional certainty
blessedness
10. Part II continued
4. The Baptist sects
baptizing symbolize faith
possessing of spirit by his gift
wait by detachment from sinful
word of god working in daily life
New birth by spirit
wait for spirit and open heart then attain state of grace
unconditional submission to God
Conduct-otherworldly ascetic
Involve in non-political calling
Honest is the best policy in capitalism
11. Part II continued
Asceticism and Spirit of Capitalism
connection b/n ascetic protestant and economic behavior,
from individual behavior to national character
Not leisure and enjoyment but glory of God
Time waste by sociability, idle talk and luxury
work hard in your calling’ st.paul’he who not work not eat’
Unwillingness to work is symptomatic of the lack of grace
Work is God’s commandment
not mere labour but rational labour
As religious essence decrease pride of wealth on world
increase vice versa
but gain, give, etc
12. Commentary
Part I
1. Religious affiliation and social stratification
religious as single factor
over look cultural context
limited to post-reformation development what about
ancient civilization and drastic development of Asian
tigers such as China’s breakthrough?
Protestantism or Christianity in relation to Biblical
religiosity decline in occident but not capitalism
13. partI
2. The spirit of capitalism
spirit of progress
why only capital but non-capitalism
Is economic determinism
3.Luther’s conception of the calling
calling-cause-world progress
14. Commentary Part II
1.The practical ethics of the Ascetic branches
of Protestantism
rationalization vs religious values
why only worldly ascetic but also other worldly ascetic
can promote progress
sign of grace
make illusion or disillusion- atheist like Marx religion-
opium
There is no clear cut distinction between Calvinism,
pietism, Methodism and Baptism since all are ascetic way
of life
He is uncritical of existence