This presentation is on the work of Max Weber's book on 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

2. Max Weber
1864-1920
Lawyer, Historian and Sociologist
 Empiricist and positivist

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