Study Questions
It can be difficult to adequately describe something's "spirit." What
techniques does
Weber use to so describe the "spirit" of capitalism, and how convincing is his
characterization? What other techniques could he have used to describe this
spirit?
What is the doctrine of predestination? What psychological impact might this
doctrine
have on the individual, according to Weber?
Why does Weber argue that Calvinism is the most "rational" religion?
Weber says that it is "not my aim to substitute for a one-sided materialistic an
equally
one-sided spiritualistic causal interpretation of culture and of history." Does
Weber
succeed in avoiding a one-sided explanation of culture and history based on
religion?
Cite examples.
Weber says that he is not trying to evaluate the social or religious worth of
the ideas of
the Reformation. How successful is he in avoiding such evaluation? Is his
study
strengthened or weakened by this desire to avoid evaluation?
Evaluate Weber's attitude towards modern capitalism, particularly as compared to
its
roots in ascetic Protestantism.
What traits unite the different forms of ascetic Protestantism that Weber
presents? What
traits distinguish them?
What is an ideal-type? What is the function of the ideal-type in Weber's study?
Explain Weber's account of the role of culture and ideas in historical progress.
