Weber's Protestant Ethic
Origins, Evidence, Contexts

A reassessment of the debate surrounding Weber's classic work Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.

Hartmut Lehmann (Edited by), Guenther Roth (Edited by)

9780521558297, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 September 1995

412 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.56 kg

"...this interesting volume shows that in the Anglo-American context it has not entirely lost its capacity to stimulate reflection and research." Fritz Ringer, Central European History

The historical relationship between Protestantism, capitalism, and democracy remains one of the most controversial intellectual themes of out time. Max Weber's famous thesis about the link between the 'Protestant ethic' and the 'spirit of capitalism' and its dissolution in his own era has been both widely acclaimed and heatedly disputed since its publication in 1904–5. This volume, the result of an international, interdisciplinary effort, throws light on the intellectual and cultural background of Weber's work, debates recent criticism of Weber's thesis, and confronts new historical insight on the 17th century with Weber's interpretation.

Introduction Guenther Roth
Part I. Background and Context: 1. The German theological sources and Protestant church politics Friedrich Wilhelm Graf
2. The thesis before Weber: an archaeology Paul Munch
3. Max Weber, Protestantism, and the debate around 1900 Thomas Nipperdey
4. Weber the would-be Englishman: anglophilia and family history Guenther Roth
5. Weber's historical concept of national identity Harry Liebersohn
6. Nietzche's monastery of freer spirits and Weber's sect Hubert Treiber
7. Weber's ascetic practices of the self Harvey Goldman
8. The Protestant ethic versus the 'new ethic' Klaus Lichtblau
9. The rise of capitalism: Weber versus Sombart Hartmut Lehmann
Part II. Reception and Response: 10. The longevity of the thesis: a critique of the critics Malcolm MacKinnon
11. The use and abuse of textual data David Zaret
12. Biographical evidence on predestination, covenant, and special providence Kaspar von Geryerz
13. The thing that would not die: notes on refutation Guy Oakes
14. Historical variability, sociological significance, and personal judgement Gianfranco Poggi
15. The historiography of continental Calvinism Philip Benedict
16. The Protestant ethic and the reality of capitalism in colonial America James Henretta
17. The economic ethics of the world religions Helwig Schmidt-Glintzer
18. Meet me in St Louis: Troeltsch and Weber in America Hans Rollmann
List of contributors
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]