ipl-logo

Protestant Work Ethic Analysis

1445 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of work ethics

This paper integrates material and ideological conditions. It will incorporate these ideas thorough analyzing the economic problem, market society and changes in the workplace. This essay will prove how the market society has been influenced by shifts in the work place and the significance of the fundamental transformations. The ultimate goal of this essay is to demonstrate the characteristics of market society, changes in the work place as well as the market society in comparison to previous social organizations. In addition to that this essay will highlight the role the “Protestant work ethic” and the “Spirit of Capitalism” has played in the emergence of market society.
To begin, I will focus on the material conditions and their effect on …show more content…

Firstly, the “Protestant work ethic” refers to the contributions religion has made towards shaping the market society. The notions if traditionalism was introduced long before capitalism (Johnston, lecture). Along with this was presented the idea of Calvinism by John Calvin (Weber, 207). Calvinism work ethics taught people to work as little as possible (Johnston, lecture). The idea of earning more money didn’t appeal to them in any way. In traditionalism the main goal was to work as little as possible. John Calvin believed that work is good for you and that hard work is a value in its self (Johnston, lecture). He also believed money should not be what motivates a person to work hard. The Protestants believed God gives everyone work and by working hard one becomes closer to God. Furthermore, traditionalism gave economic activity religious sanctions (Johnston, lecture). On the other hand in the market society that exists today we are all about working as much as we can to make the most amount of money. This is the society we live in. In market society everything is a commodity and in order to buy those commodities one needs to earn money. Money is earned through working. Therefore, the more you work the more money you earn which provide for the necessities of life such as food, shelter, and clothing among other …show more content…

“The Spirit of Capitalism” is a not a religious notion, but rather a notion of a ethic and it is this ethic that Weber calls the Protestant ethic (Johnston, lecture). This ethic was practiced in the workplace before the existence of market society. For instance, the idea of hard work comes from within this ethic (Johnston, lecture). Moreover, in his work Weber reveals the idea of Calvinism by John Calvin. Calvinism demonstrates the old spirit of Capitalism as well as the new. For example, the spirit of capitalism can be found in the older generation in our society. What we call hard work in their eyes is taking it easy. Calvinism is connected to the early spirit of Capitalism (Johnston, lecture). This idea of Calvinism is what prompted this transition into market society. As a result, the spirit of Capitalism helped develop the existing market

Show More
Related
1404 Words | 6 Pages

William T Cavanaugh (2008), wrote Being Consumed: Economics and Christian Desire which is a philosophical book, which focus on four (4) economic life matters that addresses the consumer culture within society. These four economic life matters are free market, consumerism, globalization and economic scarcity. In order for this topic to be discussed on a theological point of view, the author draws the reader’s attention to human life, the ends of life in God. The key question in every process is whether or not the transaction contributes to the flourishing of each person involved. In order to address these questions the author points to concrete examples of alternative economic practices in which Christians participate-: business, co-operatives, credit union, practices of consumption which marks the vision for Christian economic life.

Read More
1361 Words | 6 Pages

In “The Protestant Work Ethic: Just Another ‘Urban Legend?’” Jonathan Klemens states what the work ethic is and how it applies in American society. Klemens explains that the work ethic has helped the nation as a whole. Klemens explains that people work hard to achieve “the company or organization’s missions” (122). Not only that, Klemens also explains that people would work hard to gain the particular professions they desire instead of just working with no goals.

Read More
496 Words | 2 Pages

Protestant work ethic came from 2 very prominent figures of the 15th century Martin Luther and John Calvin. They both believed that the catholic did not need all the money it was receiving and squandering on unholy activities or that no priest should not be able to nullify your sins by paying to absolve them. Martin Luther believed that the truth lies in the scripture and everyone should be able to read it and see god through their own eyes. In 1517 Luther left his 95 theses for the world to see, this lead to a counter reformation by the catholic church trying to burn Luther's work but it was too late as many different schisms of Christianity rose. ( Lutherans, Calvanists, Anglicans)

Read More
827 Words | 4 Pages

In 1536 an Institute had given Calvin a reputation for the Protestant leaders, while Calvin spent the night in Genevalate, the preacher and reformer of Guillaume was creating Protestantism in the town. He persuaded him to continue to help in this line of work, his influence has not only persevered in the Church of England, where Calvin was greatly respected among those Puritans who were unfortunately separated from the Anglican Establishment, but also persisted in the Reformed churches of France, Scotland, Hungary, Germany, and the Netherlands. The latter was formulated into their own personal churches, Congregational or Presbyterian, which is what eventually brought Calvinism to North America. Even in today’s modern society these wonderful churches, along with the authentic Reformed Church and German Evangelical, recognize John Calvin as one of their founding fathers.

Read More
702 Words | 3 Pages

Weber 's views on capitalism consisted on how due to the bureaucracy control, technological efficiency and rationality, this creates an “iron cage” which traps individuals and cannot escape. The increasing rational society according to Weber is processed through bureaucracies rather than religious monarchs and because of this society is becoming impersonal and dehumanizing society. Due to the “iron cage” individuals become more insignificant as it turns workers into robots working on the same task over and over again. However, even though it 's problematic for the worker, it helps the organization or job thrive as it places its needs over the

Read More
1365 Words | 6 Pages

Catholic social doctrine states that “The economy must serve people, not the other way around” (“Seven Teachings”). Through the ideas of “survival of the fittest”, a free-enterprise system, and unregulated capitalism, Social Darwinists do not support that belief. They believe that the dignity of a person comes from the success they obtain in the workplace. However Catholics stress that dignity of a human person cannot be given or taken away, it is something all humans are inherently born with. Supporting Social Darwinism supports the separation of God’s people, who are called to unity and solidarity, and that separation will not aid the development of a just society, but rather weaken the moral standard of the world’s economy.

Read More
1706 Words | 7 Pages

The Protestant Reformation was greatly influenced by Luther and Calvin, “Luther gave the Reformation its heart and soul. Calvin gave it its mentality.” Luther is known for kicking off the Reformation; whereas, Calvin is known for bringing the meaning. The Protestant Reformation sufficiently affected people’s

Read More
1356 Words | 6 Pages

This, states R. H. Tawney, along with the economic ideas of Calvinism in its later phases, converted religion from the keystone which holds together the social edifice into one department within it, and made the idea of a rule of right to be replaced by economic expediency as the arbiter of policy and the criterion of conduct. The aim of the author was to prove the above statements by a historical study of Religion and the rise of Capitalism. To do this, the author undertakes a complete study of several factors: the economic theories propounded by the schoolmen of the Middle Ages; of the ruminations by the left wing of the Reformers against usury and extortionate prices; of the appeal of hard headed Tudors to traditional religious

Read More
1451 Words | 6 Pages

In his most famous publication, Weber studies the relationship between the ethics of ascetic Protestantism and the emergence of contemporary capitalism. He accounts bureaucracy as a key feature in modern society. This is in no way a detailed account of Protestantism itself but instead an introduction to his later studies such as “The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism” or “The Religion of India: The Sociology of Hinduism and Buddhism”. Weber argues that the “spirit” that defines capitalist ideas originates in the Protestant Reformation.

Read More
1687 Words | 7 Pages

(p 124) As he concludes the secularism of capitalism—that is, taking the religious aspect out of modern capitalism—he also suggests

Read More
1167 Words | 5 Pages

In book "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" Max Weber draws a parallel between development of religion in society and development of economic relationships. Thus, the author shows that religion can directly affect the development of the economy, and to be the main factor of how this society develops itself. The author draws attention to how capitalist relations developed in Western countries. It is a relationship in which economic behavior is not oriented owners to meet their traditional needs, and the profit.

Read More
1549 Words | 7 Pages

and in his work of In his works 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism' (1905) he presented his theory of the 'iron cage'. Through his work Weber brought about a cautiously chronological explanation of how the strong Protestants work believes in living meagrely aided in nurturing the development of the capitalist economical system in the Western world. Weber elucidated that as the influence of Protestantism diminish in the social life in due course, yet the system of capitalism remained still as well as the social structure and the principles of bureaucracy which has since then progressed with it. The bureaucratic societal structure and the values, principles which reinforced and continued to sustain it in order to shape one's social

Read More
930 Words | 4 Pages

Debates may arise on why Calvinism has been considered as an ethic for the ‘spirit of capitalism’ and not other sects, but in that case it is important to understand the context in which different sects may have played a major role, but it is the ‘rational’ ethic that made Calvinist sect of Protestants, the cause for Weber. On the other hand, even in case of Asiatic religion, Max Weber might have misinterpreted or there may be a lack of materials on the East, so despite criticisms, Max Weber’s theory remains quite vocal as he added a new significance to the discipline of sociology through methodological individualism, focusing on the individuals to understand the motive behind their action and that too formed their rational

Read More
846 Words | 4 Pages

Capitalism is understood to be the “economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.” In modern society, capitalism has become the dominant economic system and has become so integrated that it has resulted in a change in the relationships individuals have with other members of society and the materials within society. As a society, we have become alienated from other members of society and the materials that have become necessary to regulate ourselves within it, often materials that we ourselves, play a role in producing. Capitalism has resulted in a re-organization of societies, a more specialized and highly segmented division of labour one which maintains the status quo in society by alienating the individual. Karl Marx and Emile Durkheim theorize on how power is embodied within society and how it affects the individuals of society.

Read More
728 Words | 3 Pages

This ideological evolution of work has participated to the definition of self-work ethics and the rise of soft capitalism. Their perception of work has been the beginning of the modern approach of work. In order to explain this phenomenon, Tilgher explained that “Protestantism is the moving force in the profound spiritual revolution which established work in the modern mind as the base and key of life, and in this matter, the first voice of Protestantism in Luther”. We are going to study Luther’s doctrine of vocation. This idea is resting upon the idea that “one best serves God by doing most perfectly the work of one’s trade or profession”.

Read More

More about Protestant Work Ethic Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document