The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

by

Max Weber

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Protestant Reformation Term Analysis

The Protestant Reformation was a religious upheaval that spread through Europe in the 16th century, initiated by Martin Luther’s criticisms of Catholic doctrine. The Protestant Reformation had wide-reaching political, intellectual, and cultural effects, most notably that it divided formerly Catholic Europe into various competing Protestant sects and denominations.

Protestant Reformation Quotes in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

The The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism quotes below are all either spoken by Protestant Reformation or refer to Protestant Reformation. For each quote, you can also see the other terms and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Religion and the “Capitalist Spirit” Theme Icon
).
Part 1, Section 3 Quotes

The salvation of souls and this alone is at the heart of [Protestants’] life and work. Their ethical goals and the practical effects of their teaching are all anchored firmly here and are the consequences of purely religious motives. And we shall therefore have to be prepared for the cultural effects of the Reformation to be in large measure […] unforeseen and unwished for.

Related Characters: Max Weber (speaker), Martin Luther, John Calvin
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis:
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Protestant Reformation Term Timeline in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

The timeline below shows where the term Protestant Reformation appears in The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 1, Section 1: Denomination and Social Stratification
Religion and the “Capitalist Spirit” Theme Icon
...be historical causes that contribute to this phenomenon—one such possible reason is that the Protestant Reformation was especially successful in wealthy cities, meaning that Protestants may have started with higher net... (full context)
Part 1, Section 3: Luther’s Conception of the Calling
Religion and the “Capitalist Spirit” Theme Icon
The Protestant Calling Theme Icon
...Weber regards this development of the calling as one the most significant “achievements” of the Reformation. However, he denies that Luther himself had any inclination towards capitalism, and observes that the... (full context)
Religion and the “Capitalist Spirit” Theme Icon
The Protestant Calling Theme Icon
Calvinistic Predestination Theme Icon
...how “‘ideas’ become effective in history.” He also states that he is dealing with the Reformation purely as a “historical cause” and does not mean to evaluate the morality of any... (full context)