Weber uses Benjamin Franklin’s writings to illustrate this ethic, in which Franklin preaches astute financial advice with a moralistic tone, as if he were giving a sermon, and suggests that making money is one’s moral duty. He notes that that the capitalist spirit is not the same as capitalism itself, since it may exist in non-capitalist economies, and people not driven by endless profits may live within capitalist economies. Weber describes the capitalist spirit as the desire to constantly work and build greater and greater wealth, even when that wealth is not needed. While Catholics shy away from gathering wealth, Protestants, particularly Calvinists, seem possessed by the “ capitalist spirit.” Weber states that he intends to examine the various religious doctrines of Protestantism to determine how the Protestant ethic encourages the “capitalist spirit.” Weber recognizes that there are some historical contributors to this phenomenon, but argues that they are not enough to account for the “distinct mental characteristics” between Catholics and Protestants. Max Weber states that in every country with multiple Christian denominations (at least in Europe and America) a certain “social stratification” occurs between Protestants and Catholics-Protestants occupy the majority of the business leadership and skilled labor roles, while Catholics languish behind, often spending their entire lives as mere craftsmen.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |