The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

Economic traditionalism refers to the attitudes toward money and work that were predominant in society before capitalism. Such attitudes were characterized by a desire to earn only as much money as was necessary for sustaining one’s lifestyle. Weber argues that economic traditionalism served as a hindrance to the development of capitalism, which requires workers to increase their productivity so as to produce as much money as possible in the course of their working day. For industrial capitalism to fully develop, Weber argues that first the old ways of economic traditionalism had to be replaced by the new spirit of capitalism, through a “long and continuous process of education and socialization” (24). Throughout his book, Weber argues that the Protestant Reformation was one of the chief means through which this process was achieved, socializing individuals to see the earning of money as an ethical good.

Predestination is a religious doctrine common to various denominations of Protestantism and is especially associated with Calvinism. According to this doctrine, God has chosen who is destined for heaven and hell before anyone has been born. As a result, individuals have no ability to alter their fate, regardless of what good deeds they may commit during their life.