The Protestant Ethic and Capitalism

Explanation of the Protestant Ethic and its historical transformation for those not familiar with it.

Max Weber(1) argued that the (PE) was an important cultural factor in the creation of modern rational capitalism, it was a critique of Marx’s theory of historical materialism, which argued that cultural and political factors – part of the superstructure – were merely a manifestation of economic factors – the base. Weber attempted to display the relations between religion and the economy, highlighting the relative autonomy of religion and cultural factors from economic matters.

The (PE) was birthed by the Calvinist doctrine of predestination, which posed troubles for followers; how was I to know that I was one of the chosen? The followers looked to their pastors who offered two remedies 1) a lack of faith in feeling that one was chosen signaled lack of faith in God and a fall from grace and 2) that a tireless labor in a calling was the best possible means of attaining this self-assurance – one needed to constantly display their proof of being “a chosen” through labor. The result was innerworldy rational asceticism: rigorous, scrupulous, methodical work within a calling and the individuals who practice this discipline are the vehicles of the rationalizing capitalist spirit.

The rise of the (PE) signaled the destruction of traditional forms of work and profit orientation. Labor was soon organized along lines of efficiency and lax time was not allowed. However, while profit and material wealth displayed that you were chosen by God, this wealth was not to be consumed by the individual for leisure purposes. The wealth was not supposed to support an idle or luxurious life, the money was to be reinvested into the business – creating ever expanding industries and drawing more people in the production and consumption spheres into this new economic production system.

Yet, over time the economic foundation of modern rational capitalism would be able to survive without this religious impulse, as future generations would no longer have a choice nor religious conviction to engage in “the calling”. All would be forced to work under the new economic demands of modern rational capitalism.

Subsequently, the stigma against conspicuous consumption, against using wealth to provide for a luxurious or idle life, against instant gratification would fall away, especially with the rise of marketing and advertising in the early 20th century, which focused on breaking down the stigma against instant gratification and materialist hedonism. Strategies that focused on inducing people to consume the commodities of mass production and linked happiness, freedom, democracy and the American dream with consumption of commodities, material wealth, ownership of the newest toys.

So modern capital tends to focus on maintaining the methodical and rigorous work discipline (the production side of the PE) while breaking down the taboo against consumerism and enjoyment of wealth production (the consumption side of the PE). This apparent conflict of the production and consumption ethics of modern capitalism is viewed as very problematic for capitalism by Daniel Bell in his book “The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism”(2), others disagree and that these two spheres work very well together, increasing worker dissatisfaction is sedated through leisure activities and entertainment industries, which appease the individuals need for satisfaction that is denied them in their working life. Instead of the working classes attempting to create social change and overthrow capitalism, the leisure and entertainment industries keep the masses happy and isolated, preventing the formation of a historical bloc that seeks to change the existing society.