Spirit of Capitalism

• Weber 1905 - Spirit of Capitalism
• Spirit of Capitalism: capitalism is unique as it is based on the systematic, efficient, rational pursuit of profit for profit's sake
• Spirit of Capitalism has 'elective affinity' with Calvinism
• Calvinism's 'elective affinity':

  1. Predestination
  2. Divine Transcendence
  3. Asceticism
  4. Labour as a Vocation
• Predestination: predetermined afterlife with God's chosen 'elect'
• Divine Transcendence: no human able to understand or know God's will thus causing a salvation panic
• Asceticism: abstinence from luxury
• Vocation: belief in this-worldly asceticism causing labour becoming a vocation
• Idea of labour as a vocation ensures that that labour is constant
• Asceticism ensures capital is reinvested
• Capital acts as a signal from god to sign of their predestination
• Why doesn't hinduism have an elective affinity with capitalism?

  ascetic but not other-worldly
• Why doesn't Confucianism have an elective affinity with capitalism?

  This-worldly but not ascetic