1. Max Weber | Part One Presentation by Molly Prescott

2. Key Ideas  1) Why Weber believed Capitalism developed  2) How bureaucracy organizes capitalism  3) How institutions can be connected (specifically religion and the economy)

3. Max Weber (1864-1920) “The Father of Modern Sociology ”

4. How did Capitalism Emerge?  Is there a connection between Protestantism and Capitalism?  Weber says yes!

5. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  1) Anxiety/Guilt about Salvation

6. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  1) Anxiety/Guilt about Salvation  Catholics confess and are cleansed by priests regularly, but Protestants don’t  Calvinists believe in predestination (don’t know if they are saved)  However, they believed that financial success may be an indication that you are saved

7. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  2) Belief that God Likes Hard Work

8. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  2) Belief that God Likes Hard Work  Adam’s sin = constant toil /work  Idleness is a sin…Reinvest!  No hedonism (pleasures of this world)  Work is valued as an end in itself  Delayed gratification is valued

9. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  3) Work is a “calling” (religious task)

10. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  3) Work is a “calling” (religious task)  Catholics believed that only the work of religious leaders was holy  Protestants extend this to all types of work  “Be Fruitful and Multiply” Gen. 1:28

11. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  4) Community is Central

12. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  4) Community is Central  Catholics emphasized family first  Protestants emphasized the public realm  More fairness and dignity to all

13. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  5) Disenchantment

14. 5 Tenets of Protestantism that Contributed to the Spirit of Capitalism:  5) Disenchantment  Disbelief in miracles  Scientific discovery is encouraged

15. 5 Tenets of Capitalism  1) Anxiety/Guilt about salvation  2) Belief that God likes hard work  3) Work is a “calling” (religious task)  4) Community is central  5) Disenchantment

16. Why didn’t Capitalism Develop Everywhere?  Non-capitalist countries just do not hold these religious views and ideas, and they won’t become capitalist until they do  Reducing poverty isn’t about giving financial aid— that will never get us anywhere  Reducing poverty is about the transmission of ideas

17. How do we view capitalism today? Still in a religious context?

18. Secular Capitalism  The irony is that capitalism has become secular  Capitalism is self-sustaining. It no longer relies on religion but has become its own “religion”  Today, it might actually hurt businesses to have a religious affiliation

19. How do we organize capitalism? Bureaucracy

20. Characteristics of Bureaucracy  1) Hierarchy

21. Characteristics of Bureaucracy  1) Hierarchy  Knowledge is sold; Diploma is your ticket in  Work yourself up the ladder through promotions, earning higher wages as you go

22. Characteristics of Bureaucracy  2) Governed by clear, rational, universal rules

23. Characteristics of Bureaucracy  2) Governed by clear, rational, universal rules  It’s fair and equal; no bias or favoritism (in theory)  Domination through knowledge and technical competence  “Management of the modern office is based up on written documents” (computers now)  It stems from democracy, yet democracy is at odds with it  Elected officials don’t take part in moving up the hierarchy like everyone else

24. Characteristics of Bureaucracy  3) Duty takes precedence over morals or emotions

25. Characteristics of Bureaucracy  3) Duty takes precedence over morals or emotions  Rational and calculated decision making process  If you have moral conflict about your job, put it on the backburner  Leaders are mediocre and citizens are disinterested in politics

26. 3 Characteristics of Bureaucracy  1) Hierarchy  2) Governed by clear, rational, universal rules  3) Duty takes precedence over morals and emotions

27. Pessimism about Bureaucracy “The Iron Cage”

28. Weber’s Critique of Bureaucracy  1) It values order over freedom and individuality  2) It’s “practically indestructible”  3) The apparatus stays the same even with a new leader  4) Social movements and revolution are becoming rarer  5) In sum, we are trapped “in an iron cage”

29. Examples of Bureaucracy?

30. Interview with Bob and Bob Office Space

31. 2016 Election According to Weber

32. IT DOESN’T MATTER!

33. Key Ideas  1) Why Weber believed Capitalism developed  2) How bureaucracy organizes capitalism  3) How institutions can be connected (specifically religion and the economy)