(Update - added part 3)
Another reading assignment. Found full text for Max Weber's
The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.
Finished 2 chapters. So far so good. He seems to be of the typical "Western" thought that tries to draw separate spheres of economics, religion, and culture. From these spheres he tries to determine which one influenced the shaping of the other, in what order, i.e. the causal relationship between religion and culture.
The Taming of the Samurai by Ikegami is a far more superior analysis of how a form of culture becomes dominant and then takes on a life of its own, at which point it influences/constrains/motivates the actions of the participants.
I guess I should finish the book first before I pass more judgments.
..........
Now I'm starting Chapter 5. Weber talks a bit about Luther, how his conception of 'calling' was central to the Reformation, and how this idea was transformed by Calvinists to complete devaluation of the Church and creating a framework that fostered the spirit of capitalism. Cool analysis, and he sort of explains why he focuses the religious route as opposed to the material (economic) route. However he doesn't mention how both of the factors played on each other. I guess you can't talk about everything in 5 chapters.
I read a little about Martin Luther in Wikipedia. His early bio sounds mega interesting; would make a great subject of psychoanalysis. Probably done already. Anyway, the wiki page says that the Protestant Reformation started when
Luther was protesting the sale of indulgences (incidentally in order to raise money for St. Peters). By this time
the practice of selling indulgence had been abused over and out. I'm guessing indulgences started with a good intention, and over time, it became such a good money-making machine for the Catholic Church and everyone involved that it was naturally abused.
Sounds a lot like...
Credit Default Swap!
..........
Finally finished, hew! Took me 3 days to read ~120 pages. I guess writing 5 Xanga every minutes to reflect and researching the nitty gritty of the book makes reading more arduous.
I'm finally satisfied with his book, because in the very last paragraph of the book, he answers
the very thing that was nagging me:
"But it would also further be necessary to investigate how Protestant Asceticism was in turn influenced in its development and its character by the totality of social conditions, especially economic."
The book was written ~1905. I'm guessing that the academic consensus of his time for explaining the rise of capitalism was presented purely in capitalist terms, so he was perhaps trying to point out the insufficiency of the existing mode of thinking. Similar to Emile Durkheim's book
Suicide, Weber is forcing me to think, to look at the world analytically, to see the social patterns emerging from the mundane.
The edition I'm reading has an introduction by Anthony Giddens, in which he says:
"Weber wrote The Protestant Ethic at a pivotal period of his intellectual career, shortly after his recovery from a depressive illness that had incapacitated him... for ... four years."
This immediately makes me think of Lincoln, because some historians say that Lincoln's insights/brilliance was partly drawn from his depression (I bought
Lincoln's Melancholy but haven't read it yet). Also makes me wonder if Martin Luther went through depressive stage. His wiki bio says he left law school to become a monk. First of all, I haven't heard of a happy person choosing to be a monk. Moreover,
the bio states: "One friend blamed the decision on Luther's sadness over the deaths of two friends. Luther himself seemed saddened by the move." I suppose I need to read more about Luther's life to see if he was a depressive.
Comments (5)
Weber and Emile Durkheim are the only two authors I remember from my Intro to Sociology class in - what? - 1968? Unfortunately I never read Ikegami.
I absolutely delight in how your mind works, Grace! Comparing indulgences to credit default swaps - hahaha! Who else would ever think of that? And yet it is true at such a fundamental level. I'll be fascinated to read your ruminations after you've finished this Sociology class you're taking.
I actually don't think that the intention behind the sale of indulgences was ever more than a desire to make money for the Catholic Church. Love of money has certainly been the root of all evil in the Vatican.
I remember once, back in 1969, I was strolling with my girlfriend du jour near her apartment on the peninsula of Squantum, Massachusetts. We passed a Catholic Church, and it was Saturday, the day of Confession for Catholics. I still recall distinctly that there was a sign on the door indicating that the price of admission to have your sins forgiven was 50 cents. Even in my 19 years of being around Catholics, I had never seen or heard of anything like that. Buying candles, yes. But paying at the door? Never.
@Eccentrique - Ikegami's book is pretty recent, and heavily academic, full of socio-lingo but what she had to say was good.
I love your story of 50 cents!!! I want to read more of your amusing snippets from the past.
@gpspacey - *sigh* It looks like I will probably never get my book written. You may have to come and visit me, and I'll regale you with stories over beer and pizza. I need to TELL my stories, you know.
I'm glad you enjoyed your book. Capitalism is fascinating, especially when one looks at how it arose. Looking at it within the context of religion would be very fascinating.
What about YOU, my dear? Do you have a predisposition to depression? Or is it too soon to tell?