The Protestant Ethic 1

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The Protestant Ethic 1
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Theories
Psychology
Doctrines
Material reality
Freud
Marx
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Webers point

• an ethic based on religion places certain
  psychological sanctions (not economic character)
  on the maintenance of the attitude prescribed by
  it, sanctions which, so long as the religious
  belief remains alive, are highly effective, and
  which mere worldly wisdom does not have at its
  disposal. Only insofar as these sanctions work,
  and above all, in the direction in which they
  work, which is often very different from the
  doctrine of the theologians, does such an ethic
  gain in independent influence and the conduct of
  life and thus on the economic order. This is, to
  speak frankly the point of this whole essay,
  which I had not expected to find so completely
  overlooked. (p. 197)

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Theories
Psychology
Doctrines
Material reality
Weber
Marx
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The Puritan wanted to work in a calling, we
are forced to do so the modern economic order
is now bound by the technical and economic
conditions of machine production which today
determine the lives of all the individuals were
born into this mechanism. (p. 181)
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Capitalism

• The concept of capitalism is identical with
  the pursuit of profit, and forever renewed
  profit, by means of continuous, rational,
  capitalistic enterprise.

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Spirit of Capitalism
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365
1460
20 down on a loan of
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2
3
0
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Spirit of Capitalism
Franklin thought that if you didnt do this,
you were an idiot, not a sinner.
Just kidding! Probably. (Most likely,
he was playing a role, like Martha Stewart. )
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Spirit of Capitalism
Franklin thought that if you didnt do this,
you were an idiot, not a sinner.
Calvin figured this meant you actually
were a sinner.
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Spheres of Life
Professional Sphere Goal To make money, keep
machine going Habits Fix machine when its
broken Logic Gear B fits into Socket 5 etc.
etc. Philosophy If its acting up, kick it first

Academic Sphere Goal Learn/Teach Habits If you
havent read, bluff. Logic There is a rational
explanation for everything Philosophy If its
acting up, kick it first
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Spheres of Life
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Spheres of Life
?
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Martin Luther
Familial sphere
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Luthers Personal Conclusion

• God is like a person capable of love and anger.
• Just as human relationships grow closer and
  looser, peoples relationship with God do the
  same.
• Its possible to offend God through sin,
• but if you honestly feel bad about it, and
  sincerely repent, God will forgive you.

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John Calvin
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?
Academic/Philosophical Sphere
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Calvins Logical Conclusion

• God controls everything.
• Therefore, God decides all of your actions.
• Therefore, God decides whether you will do good
  or bad.
• Therefore, God alone decides whether youll go to
  heaven or hell. You have no say in this
  yourself.

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Double Predestination

• God is all-knowing.
• God has always known everything about you.
• Therefore, since before the beginning of time,
  God has always known whether
• a) you will enjoy peace in heaven, or
• b) you will suffer eternal, torturous damnation
  in hell.

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If God likes you, youll be successful.
If God likes you, youll have money,
But you wont waste it.