Max Weber

2 Pages 586 Words

“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings” (Proverbs 22:29). This verse from the Bible describes Max Weber’s argument of the relationship between business and religion. He basically describes the way Calvinism, a doctrine of the Protestant religion, had effects on capitalism.
The ethics of the Protestant religion were the main factors that affected capitalism. One of these characteristics was how the religion “acted powerfully against the spontaneous enjoyment of possessions” (Seeing Ourselves p. 348). This statement basically described the way materialistic things and earthly possessions were not to be pleasured too much. The second characteristic was described by Weber saying the religion “restricted consumption, especially of the luxuries” (Seeing Ourselves p. 348). This characteristic shows how Weber thought the Protestant religion prohibited a build-up of possessions. One last characteristic is how the religion had the “psychological effect of freeing the acquisition of good from the inhibitions of traditionalistic ethics” (Seeing Ourselves p. 348). Acquisition, or ownership, being freed from inhibitions, or embarrassment, of traditionalistic ethics meant that this ownership was viewed as being willed by God.
These characteristics of Protestantism were believed to help shape the foundation of capitalism in Weber’s opinion. Because all of these factors proved the followers of this religion saved money, spent it wisely, and accumulated only the things of necessity, this “work-and-save” attitude aided capitalism in several ways. One way was working hard and to the best of their ability. This promoted the development of capitalism because strong workers resulted in strong companies which lead to a strong economy. After the people would work, they would earn money. However, instead of spending this money on fancy things, they would instead save it and be very frugal with what they...