What kind of worker are you?
Angie – line worker, efficient, not setting up the line…just implementing it, definite separation between work and creativity
Wendy – best with deadlines, motivation, priority, finisher (like Nick)
Nick – finisher, doesn’t like things half-done, creative within boundaries
Jennifer – easily distracted from menial tasks but more focused in more demanding tasks, starter – likes to learn new things better than finishing what’s been started
John – complicated worker…analytic thinker and likely to reinvent the line, tends to build a clock that’s too big to wind and then has to scale back to what’s realistic, thinks about who’s benefitting from it, finisher wannabe
Ken – manic depressive worker: manic – creative, expansive, making something new, pulling from a diverse range of options, rage to master and complete, intense, sticks with it as long as there’s energy; depressive – loses any sense of value in what he’s done, then does repetitive work until he gets bored…which launches the next environment
Weber’s background
1864–1920
father known for enjoying life
mother was a Calvinist (God picked you, ascetic – your life shows that you’re saved)
background in law – builds systematic cases, not a sloppy thinker
German sociologist and economist (one of the 3 fathers of sociology – scientific approach to studying human culture in groups)
World’s Fair – St. Louis, 1904 – Weber was in St. Louis at that time so Ken’s theory is that it must have influenced his work
Karl Marx – reductionist compared to Weber, would say it’s all based on class and economics (Weber says there are other cultural forces at work)
described himself as irreligious
his culture had become post-Catholic (after Luther and Calvin)
What question is he trying to answer with his argument?
Spirit of capitalism = drive
Why is there a drive in some people to continue acquiring wealth, beyond their needs? (capitalism vs. traditionalism)
What is their attitude toward wealth creation?
calling – a sense of being called no matter how much they accumulated, blessed financially because of
source of the calling – Martin Luther, all believers are called…not just the priests, even the people on the lowest rung, the job is never done
work – gives a sense of worth, connection to the middle class
29 – God has given you something to do and you must do it; you are perpetually glorifying God by being profitable (you are offering something of worth)
Luther (Mystical): priesthood of all believers (calling) – you must live up to your calling, questioned canonicity of James
Calvin (Ascetic): you’re chosen or you’re not, total depravity, work out your salvation
Lutheranism and Calvinism led to 4 principal sects of ascetism…
1. Puritanism – Calvinist, no enjoyment now, other-worldly minded, work is evidence of grace, pleasure is for the next life, God-given obligation to be profitable (and then the money goes back to His work)
2. Pietism – believed in predestination, more community oriented, combines asceticism (on an individual level) with mysticism (as a group), God interacts directly with us as a body/group, we demonstrate by our works that we have been saved, Luther showing up in Calvinism
3. Methodism – mystical conversion followed by an ascetic life, two blessings: the conversion and the pursuit of perfection (working out of salvation)
4. Anabaptists – Quakers, Amish, Mennonites, all believe in a believer’s baptism (or rebaptism), start their own sects because they believe that they are the true believers, remove themselves from the world, ascetic group and mystical sanctification (direct access to the Holy Spirit), Bible was then no longer the sole source of authority, not a lot of rules to follow
Result:
Working hard and succeeding is proof of your salvation (that you are one of the chosen)
perpetual profit-making machine
What is the crux of his argument?
That when America was being formed, “religious forces…[were] the decisive influences in the formation of national character” (Ch. 5, paragraph 1).
The utility of God was in getting the capitalist engine running, but now it doesn’t need him because they have material wealth.
rise of the middle class – people who work to acquire, as long as their work and acquisition of wealth doesn’t hurt anyone else, they can continue to acquire.
Now: Work is not because of a calling – it’s to acquire wealth so we can enjoy ourselves (and give some away).
Where is our culture going? What’s the next step?
Next step should be looking back and reflecting on our roots and finding a higher purpose for work.
Our culture: How much do I have to do to maintain my lifestyle?
end up moving toward a socialist govt because you’re looking to get your needs met (without being willing to work harder for it)
might move toward traditionalism (working just hard enough to meet your needs), which Weber says is the enemy of capitalism