Weberian

Question 1

What does Max Weber argue?

Answer 1

Religion may be a dynamic force
Uses example of religious ideas helping to bring about the Industrial Revolution
Happened in England first

Question 2

How did religious ideas help to bring about the Industrial Revolution?

Answer 2

The first capitalists who built & ran the factories. Had two key beliefs: predestination + salvation anxiety

Question 3

What does predestination mean?

Answer 3

God has already decided who ‘the elect’ are (who is going to heaven) and who is not, nothing you do on earth can alter this decision

Question 4

What did the belief in predestination lead to?

Answer 4

Salvation anxiety

Question 5

What is salvation anxiety?

Answer 5

Scared about if they were going to heaven or not, made the Calvinists look for ‘signs’ , one could be economic success + owning lots of factories- encouraged them to work hard

Question 6

What was Weber’s second key idea?

Answer 6

They were puritans so led ascetic lifestyle; couldn’t waste money but must reinvest it. Meant they became more successful

Question 7

Why does Weber argue that capitalism didn’t first develop in ancient China or India?

Answer 7

Because it lacked a religious belief system like that of calvinism

Question 8

How can Weber be criticised?

Answer 8

Some historians have argued that capitalism came before Calvinism
Capitalism didn’t develop in every country where there were lots of Calvinists eg Scotland
Why would anyone want to be a Calvinist; don’t get to enjoy wealth