The factors shaping the capitalist spirit according to Max Weber and Werner Sombart

Thèmes abordés

Factors, capitalist spirit, Max Weber, Werner Sombart, capitalism

Résumé du document

The word "capitalism" appeared in the late nineteenth century, with the German Socialists. Later, this word was used by economists, historians and sociologists, as W. Sombart who in 1902 published his book Der modern Kapitalismus or Max Weber published in 1904 protestantische Die Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus. Max Weber and Werner Sombart were thus among the first to use the term capitalism and to undertake work on this concept. However, they do not share the same opinions as to the origins of capitalism and the factors that have played in its development.

Extraits

[...] The factors shaping the capitalist spirit according to Max WEBER and Werner SOMBART The word "capitalism" appeared in the late nineteenth century, with the German Socialists. Later, this word was used by economists, historians and sociologists, as W. Sombart who in 1902 published his book Der modern Kapitalismus or Max Weber published in 1904 protestantische Die Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus. Max Weber and Werner Sombart were thus among the first to use the term capitalism and to undertake work on this concept. [...]

[...] In The Jews and Modern Capitalism, W. Sombart defines capitalism as the economic organization which includes the regular collaboration of two different categories of the population: the means of production of homeowners (bourgeois man), who fill also management functions, and workers solely dedicated to work and possessing nothing. For W. Sombart, like Weber, rationalism is one of the key elements of capitalism, for he explains that to ensure the sustainability of a company it's necessary to establish a rational organization. [...]

[...] Indeed, the emergence of capitalism is closely linked to the Protestant work ethic. He explains that any rational thought or activity may contribute to the emergence of the capitalist system, as soon as it applies to the economic field. He noted the role of the monks, not only in the West but also in Tibet, Japan, China and India where Weber understands that the difference of evolution between certain cultures is explained by the influence of religious ideas on activities economic. [...]

[...] While the peasant or craftsman is always concerned about the quality. Moreover, it asserts that it is the Jews who have broken the traditional economy, to launch in the pursuit of gain, regardless of any limitations and no scruples. So for W.Sombart, the capitalist spirit is based on the bourgeois nature and the ethnical like Jews, the rational organization of corporate, greed in the business community. However, for M.Weber, sources of the capitalist spirit include religious influence, the acquired gain lawfully and the rationalization of business activities. [...]