Crystal Pinho – Assignment 02 Weber’s Spirit of Capitalism
Weber views this increasing philosophy of materialism as an end in itself. Modern capitalism exudes this sense of duty to prosper. In order for Weber to best illustrate his method, he utilizes Benjamin Franklin theories and famous quote “time is money…” Franklin exemplifies the spirit of capitalism. His quote expresses different forms of money—Time is money, Credit is money, and money has the ability to produce more money. Consistently paying your bills on time will encourage a form of confidence and trust. Franklin’s ethical principles relate to the usefulness in the hopes of promoting profits.
The rational ethics of capitalism does not grasp this self-indulgent lifestyle; Franklin embodies. During the middle Ages, Franklin’s methods would have been seen as, nothing more than greed. This attitude towards money is the primary reason for capitalism. It expresses a similar feeling associated with religion. The desirable quality of earning money mirrors the competence of a higher calling. In my opinion, capitalism acts as another form of Darwinism.
Weber was significantly influenced by Franklin’s concept of capitalism and its effects on society. The money earned should be reinvested into capital. His views of money were more rational. Benjamin Franklin followed the path of science, which all knowledge inspires from experiences.
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Good start Crystal. I like that you highlight how the virtue of a person will be based on repayment of debts. Weber is interested in how important this was for the Puritans living in New England in the early 1600s. Remember to stick to the word count.