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CSS Sociology QUESTION #1662
Question 1
In his seminal work 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism,' Max Weber contends that the distinctive rationalized form of modern Western capitalism emerged primarily as a consequence of which religious and cultural force?
  • Economic rationalization alone
  • The ethic of worldly asceticism rooted in Calvinist and Puritan Protestantism✔️
  • The rise of materialist philosophy in Enlightenment Europe
  • The technological momentum of the Industrial Revolution
Correct Answer Explanation
Weber argued that the 'spirit of capitalism' — characterized by disciplined work, reinvestment of profit, and avoidance of consumption — was uniquely fostered by the ascetic Protestant ethic, particularly Calvinism's doctrine of predestination. This cultural orientation, not material conditions alone, gave capitalism its distinctive rational character in the West.