Spirit of Capitalism

In Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethics and The Sprit of Capitalism, we are shown some key factors in affiliation with capitalism and religion affiliation. In the first section primarily looks at the difference between Catholics and Protestants. The second section looks at the importance of saving money, by discussing credit and economic survival. The third section we read looks at the role that being Puritan plays in the economics of those that follow that religion. Overall, the whole article looks at the work ethic of Puritans and how it has been influenced by the protestant religion.

A part of this article that I found interesting were the multiple quotes from Benjamin Franklin. I really enjoyed this part because these quotes are something that I grew up hearing. My parents did not walk around directly quoting Benjamin Franklin, but the ideas behind these quotes. I was raised knowing that I would have to work hard in order to make money and be successful. That money is precious because you have worked so hard for it, and you should not just waste it. My favorite quote on there, in which I believe sums these ideas up is "Remember, that money is of the prolific, generating nature. Money can beget money, and its offspring can beget more, and so on. Five shillings turned is six, turned again it is seven and threepence, and so on, till it becomes a hundred pounds. The more there is of it, the more it produces every turning, so that the profits rise quicker and quicker. He that kills a breeding-sow, destroys all her offspring to the thousandth generation. He that murders a crown, destroys all that it might have produced, even scores of pounds.”

Although these values have been instilled in me, for many of us they no longer exist. Our economy now believes in the use of credit to get by, and will purchase things even if they know that they cannot really afford them. This has changed from the top and rolled down. Our government is millions of dollars in debt as are many Americans. How is it possible from our culture to change from time is money to I can pay for this later?