Yaksh ChaudharyAIR 6 · CSE 2021 · 394 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a definition
Weber in his book "Protestant Ethic and sprit of capitalism" analysed the link between protestantism (ie. Calvinism) and Capitalism. He argues that religious ethics of Calvinism led to emergence of spirit of capitalism as a system of ideas. fig. weber's Theory
weber started his theory by observing that in different societies, especially developed Countries, most of the business leaders, capitalist, high skilled managers belong to Protestant sect. He tried to analyse this link.
| Protestant ethic | Spirit of Capitalism |
|---|---|
| 1) Concept of calling | 1) Rational pursuit of profit. |
| 2) success in this world i.e. asceticism and this worldly religion | 2) Pursuit of profit not because of greed but through an ethical imperative |
| 3) Concept of predestination and signs | 3) Hard work and rational organisation of work. |
(Below table:)
to uncover these signs, one has to work hard for achieving material success.
Hence Protestant ethic provided ethical, industrious, sober and dedicated workforce the emergence of Capitalism.
weber further analysed the the religions of different Countries to prove this theory.
In his book "Religion of India", he say that religions outlook Hinduism and caste system hindered the Capitalism emergence in India.
Similary in book, "Religion of china" weber says that despite having strong market, guild system (ie. material conditions), the cultural system (Taoism and Confucianism) discouraged emergence of Capitalism in china.
On the same lines Gunnar Myrdal in his book Asian Drama suggest that the archaic institutions of India and its culture hindered the development of Indian society.
Ideas of weber still guides the researchers and is relevant.
Criticisms of weber's Theory
Body · points and prose
ety.
Ideas of weber still guides the researchers and is relevant.
Criticisms of weber's Theory
- Veena Das and JPS Uberoi suggest that weber analysed Indian society through myopic perspective. Communities of marwadis and Banias, sikhs etc. encouraged the Capitalism.
(2) Greschenkron argues that it's not always religion that guides the emergence of Capitalism. In Russia, state encouraged the Capitalism.
(3) similarly in japan, family system led towards push to Capitalism.
(4) milton singer says that caste system doesn't hinder capitalism but can facilitate it.
Close · a summary
However weber advocated that Spirit of protestantism is one of the factor, other factors of political and material world are also required for Capitalism.
Hence despite many criticism of weber, his theory can analyse the underdevelopment of African and Asian countries. His theory is still bold and illuminating.