RLG210Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Purgatory, Protestantism, Protestant Work Ethic
Document Summary
Franklin embodies the full fusion between the protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism. He gives us all advice on how to be successful, wealthy but all in a religious language. You get wealthy because you live an ethical life. Money making in itself is not what capitalism is about. Its not the case that before capitalism, we didn"t see in societies that money making was not important. Weber says capitalism when it emerges, it is not the pursuit of endless richness, its going to be there but it wont be the impulse. Thus, franklin comes and gives an image of an industrial, honest, hardworking, diligent and religious person if you live this way you will be successful. Weber admits, in his day even that this type of capitalism is already disappearing He is a hero, virtuoso charismatic type. We know he was deeply troubled, and anxious.
