lvaro Miguel Galindo Huerta

AIB

19/04/16

THE PROTESTAN ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM

If you ask anyone that walks in the street, which is the most powerful country, only
a few will disagree that the answer is: the United States of America. Since the U.S
independence in 1776, they became the giant of America, and the perfect example
of capitalism. Nowadays, all the economies are related to capitalism. Even the
communist China is adapting to enter this lifestyle, because capitalism growth
affects every aspects of life in society.

So, when you study capitalism, you must turn to Protestant Reformation. To be
sincere, thats the idea of Max Weber, author of the book The Protestant Ethic
and the Spirit of Capitalism. Why turning to Luther, Calvin and the Puritans? Well,
search deeper in the United States, the authority of capitalism and you would find
that many of the thirteen colonies were populated by Puritans, Lutherans and
Protestants that come to America to begin a new life. So maybe there is a
connection between the ethic of the colonizers and the spirit of capitalism.

Webers theory looks like a treaty of the nature of capitalism, and in a sense it is.
To understand what is the connection and the similitudes of the Protestant ideas
and how they influenced the economic market the author had to initiate in the 16th
century, when a German monk decided to rebel to the Church.

In his essays he argues that in many countries more Protestants are related with
businesses tan the Catholics. He refers to a study that shows in that in every

lvaro Miguel Galindo Huerta

AIB

19/04/16

country, most of the owners of shops and the traders are Protestant. Weber points
directly to the fact that religion goes farther than a temple and influence the values
that the parents teach to their children.

He describes the Protestant meaning of life of working in this life in order to gain
more heaven. But, Catholics way of thinking does not make a special emphasis of
working every day in order to reach the Lord. Work is in second plane and they
teach their children this way.

Even one of the most influent characters of American history, Benjamin Franklin,
argues that time is money, credit is money and money can beget money. He even
encourages people to make themselves an ideal of the industry. They must pay
their debts in time, and make the others feel confident with you and be people of
trust.

The philosophy of capitalism, of earning and earning money, can be criticized by all
the others kind of economic ideas. But for the Protestants this way of living means
to make more successful the town they lived and to share their wealth for the Lord
charity.

Max Webers ideas are really convincing and logical. Even it is considered that his
ideas founded actual sociology. Nowadays many religions

lvaro Miguel Galindo Huerta

AIB

19/04/16

Bibliography:
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Weber Max, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, United
States, Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005.