Weber's Protestant Ethic Origins, Evidence, Contexts [Paperback]

A reassessment of the debate surrounding Weber's classic work Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism.Although his Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism has received much attention, this volume throws new light on the intellectual and cultural background of Weber's work. It debates recent criticism of his thesis and confronts new historical insight on the seventeenth century with his interpretation.Although his Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism has received much attention, this volume throws new light on the intellectual and cultural background of Weber's work. It debates recent criticism of his thesis and confronts new historical insight on the seventeenth century with his interpretation.Although Weber's path-breaking work on the Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism has received much attention ever since it first appeared in 1904-5, recent research has uncovered important new aspects. This volume, the result of an international, interdisciplinary effort, throws new light on the intellectual and cultural background of Weber's work, debates recent criticism of Weber's thesis, and confronts new historical insight on the seventeenth century with Weber's interpretation. Revisiting Weber's thesis serves to deepen our understanding of Weber as much as it will stimulate further research.Introduction Guenther Roth; Part I. Background and Context: 1. The German theological sources and Protestant church politics Friedrich Wilhelm Graf; 2. The thesis before Weber: an archaeology Paul Munch; 3. Max Weber, Protestantism, and the debate around 1900 Thomas Nipperdey; 4. Weber the would-be Englishman: anglophilia and family history Guenther Roth; 5. Weber's historical concept of national identity Harry Liebersohn; 6. Nietzche's monastery of freer spirits and Weber's sect Hubert Treiber; 7. Weber's ascetic practices of the self Harvey Goldman; 8. The Protestant ethic versus the 'new ethic' Klaus Lichtblau; 9. The rise of capitalism: Weber versusl³