Max Weber is known for his analysis of the factors that led to the creation of modern capitalism. In various works, he examined social, ethical, philosophical, and religious forces that shaped the system of production that emerged in Europe as well as the United States. His ideas are discussed by many modern scholars who focus on the key arguments advanced by Weber in his books.
For example, one can mention Laura Edles (2009) and Richard Swedberg (2000). It is necessary to show how these researchers discuss the rise of capitalism and Max Weber’s ideas. Overall, one can say that Laura Edles attaches importance to the influence of ethical norms and values which emerged due to the Protestant Reformation.
Additionally, this author demonstrates the way in which these values or attitudes influenced the development of various institutions which were critical for the rise and existence of capitalism. In contrast, Richard Swedberg discusses the transformation of various social institutions that facilitated the development of capitalism. His discussion is more comprehensive because it incorporates the analysis of various factors that are not related to religion or its ethical dogmas.
These are the main details that should be analyzed. In her book, Laura Edles discusses the ideological factors that led to the development of capitalism. She refers to Weber’s book The Protestant Ethic and the Rise of Capitalism. The author mentions the ideas expressed by the main leaders of the Puritan movement.
For example, one can mention Richard Baxter and John Calvin who believed that “success and profit in worldly affairs” could be a sign of God’s grace (Edles, 2009, p. 149). It should be kept in mind that wealth had to be attained through labor, rather than force or fraud. More importantly, they believed that a person should invest capital in production, rather than luxury objects and hedonistic lifestyles.
Additionally, this author refers to the arguments made by Weber who examines the ethical principles of Protestantism and their impact on the behavior of people. For example, one can speak about the assumption that labor of a person should be “an absolute end in itself” (Weber as cited in Edles, 2009, p. 153). This worldview could be critical for improving the quality of products.
Furthermore, this value system implies that laziness can be viewed as a form of sin. Thus, there is a specific set of attitudes and values that could have contributed to the rise of capitalism. Apart from that, they shaped social relations between individuals and influenced the development of various institutions.
For example, one can speak about the growing division of labor which can be explained by people’s willingness to improve the quality of their work and make it more efficient. The main strength of this analysis is that it can better illustrate the role of a specific factor on various social trends.
However, this discussion does not fully reflect the complexity of Weber’s views on the development of capitalism since he recognized the impact of other factors such as the freedom of labor and evolution of existing laws. This is one of the points that should be taken into account.
In turn, it is possible to speak about the discussion provided by Richard Swedberg who also relies on Max Weber’s ideas. This author focuses on Weber’s lecture course which is known as General Economic History. In particular, this author examines on the role of social groups and institutions that could shape the economic development of various societies.
For example, Richard Swedberg refers to the role of clans or groups that were related by kinship. The role of clans diminished in Western Europe, but they retained their influence in other regions of the world (Swedberg, 2000, p. 10). This issue is important because clans could limit the economic initiatives of separate individuals or households.
Moreover, it is possible to speak about other factors that could have played a critical part in the development of capitalism. Much attention should be paid to the existence of “calculable law” (Swedberg, 2000, p. 18). In other words, the legislation was understandable, predictable, and enforceable.
Admittedly, Richard Swedberg does not overlook the influence of ethical norms that led to the creation of capitalism. Nevertheless, this author takes a broader look at the origins of capitalism and offers a sociological interpretation of Weber’s ideas. Moreover, Richard Swedberg examines the factors that existed before the Protestant movement. This is one of the issues that should not be overlooked.
The author’s discussion is helpful because it enables the reader to understand the way in which economic development responded to various external factors. Nevertheless, one should keep in mind that each of the issues discussed in this text can be examined in greater detail. A very brief analysis of these questions can give readers only a superficial idea about the rise of capitalism, and in many cases, it is not sufficient.
This is one of the main pitfalls that should not be overlooked. While comparing these texts, one should consider several important details. Richard Swedberd tries to examine the evolution of capitalism from a sociological perspective. This is why he refers to whose portions of Weber’s work in which the functioning of social institutions is examined.
This approach is important for understanding the history of various European countries. In turn, Laura Edles examines the role of morality and religion. These factors can also be important for understanding the reasons why people could become engaged in certain economic activities and why they chose to take a different approach to their work and lifestyles. This is one of the differences that one should be taken into account.
Nevertheless, there are some similarities that should not be overlooked. In both cases, technology is not described as the main determinant of economic development. This viewpoint is often included in the different scholarly works illustrating the economic history of different societies.
Additionally, the researchers recognize there had to be a system of worldviews and assumptions shared by many people. Without them, the transformation of economic relations or social institutions would have been impossible. Thus, one can argue that these readings throw light on Max Weber’s analysis of capitalism and its origins. The readings demonstrate that the rise of capitalism can have different origins.
It is critical to consider dramatic transformation in the value system and norms of many people who changed their attitudes towards wealth, production, and trade. The analysis provided by Laura Edles (2009) and Richard Swedberg (2000) help readers get better insights into the transformation of European societies.
These readings illustrate that the transformation of value system, ethical norms and social institutions led to the creation of capitalism, at least its rudimentary forms. These are the main aspects that can be singled out.
Reference List
Edles, L. (2009). Sociological Theory in the Classical Era: Text and Readings. New York, NY: SAGE Publications.
Swedberg, R. (2000). Max Weber and the Idea of Economic Sociology. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.