Calvinism

Weber and his ideas

Attempted to show that religious ideas can stimulate social and economic change as people are acting in terms of their beliefs. He sought to explain why capitalism developed first in Western countries and found that Calvinism could explain this. 

What is Calvinism?

a form of ascetic Protestantism.

How does Calvinism cause capitalism?

Due to religious beliefs around Predestination and divine transcendence this creates a salvation panic. This leads to them seeking signs of God to create the feeling that they were the chosen ones.

paired with emphasis on asceticism and vocation this led them working hard and achieving material success, something they took as one of these signs.

The value of hardwork and pursuit of success they then would reinvest back into their businesses rather than spending on luxuries, the foundation of capitalism (making money and reinvesting it to make more money - productivity- is the essence of capitalism)

Definitions for predestination, divine transcendence, asceticism and vocation and calling

predestination = God decided fate (you are powerless to fate)

Divine transcendence = we can never know God’s will or decision.

Asceticism = devote themselves to life of God and prayer (no indulgences)

Vocation and calling = think their calling is to glorify God’s name through work.

Why other countries didn’t/haven’t developed capitalism?

E.G Hindu and Confucianism focused more on moving away from material to spiritual. Lack the drive to systematically accumulate wealth necessary for modern capitalism.

AO3:

Tawney = technological advancements bought about Capitalism - it was only after capitalism was established that the Bourgeoisie adopted Calvinist beliefs to legitimise pursuits.

Exaggeration on its influence as Scotland had large Calvinist population but capitalism slow to develop there.