Essay: Answering Questions

1) In what way was the Protestants’ ascetic ethic a challenge to feudal aristocrats who ruled throughout Europe before the rise of capitalism?

Protestants’ ascetic ethic challenge traditional aristocratic norms and rules in terms of the acquisition of goods (Weber, 86), which implies that the acquisition is a norm. In this regard, it is important to place emphasis on the fact that feudal aristocrats focused on the noble norms and rules, which had nothing in common with acquisition. Moreover, acquisition was indignant for noble men and contradicted to feudal aristocrats’ norms and rules. Therefore, Protestants’ ascetic ethics challenge conventional feudal aristocratic norms, which were grounded on noble norms and principles, which implied the strict subordination, idleness, refusal from trade and any sort of business, whereas acquisition was perceived as a sort of vice for feudal aristocrats, whereas Protestants take acquisition and, therefore, trade and business as a norm.

2) What are some examples of how Puritan codes that Weber mentioned reinforced the ethos of capitalism?

In fact, the Puritan code contributed to the emergence of capitalism through the ascetic compulsion to save promoted by Puritans (Weber, 87). As a result, the ascetic compulsion to save contributed to the accumulation of capital. The accumulation of capital in its turn was one of the essential steps toward the rise of capitalism because the accumulation of capital allowed capitalist to use their capital to exploit workers, whereas the competition between capitalists accumulating their capitals stimulated trade and fast progress of capitalism. In such a context, Puritan ascetic laid the ideological ground to capitalism. At the same time, Puritan codes just mirrored the actual socioeconomic development of the society and matched actual needs of people, who changed their economic relations and were willing to change their moral values and norms to justify the rise of capitalism.

3) When you go to buy a car, or encounter any salesperson, where do you see the concept of the “calling” as Weber uses it in this reading?

Weber understood calling as the pursuit of wealth (Weber, 87). In actuality, this calling may be interpreted not just as a mere pursuit of wealth but as consumerism, which has become the mainstream trend in the contemporary society. In such a situation, when I go to buy a car or encounter a salesperson, I see the ‘calling’ as Weber understood it because I, as a buyer, pursue some luxuries or wealth, whereas salesperson also want to sale goods or services in pursuit of wealth or to accumulate capital. At the same time, they may be viewed as mere employees, who perform their functions to serve capitalist to earn their wealth. Anyway, trade and salespersons stimulate consumption and this is their main goal for the more they sale the more they earn, regardless of moral or ethical effects as well as regardless of socioeconomic effects of their trade.

4) Was the Puritan (Protestant) ethic one that forbid, forbids or stigmatizes wealth making? Why or Why not?

According to Weber, the Puritan ethics stigmatize wealth making (Weber, 86-87). In fact, Weber stands on the ground that Puritan codes accepts acquisition as a norm and, what is more, stimulates the development of capitalism through the accumulation of capital and through the pursuit of wealth. Puritan codes justify capitalism and wealth making because it is considered to be a norm. As a result, they can focus on wealth making due to the justification of wealth making by Puritan ascetic ethic.

5) Read the article in the Boston Phoenix at this link: Bernard Baran Freed -> http://thephoenix.com/Boston/news/15767-criminal-justice/?rel=inf

Baran seems to have been affected by the ascetic ethos that Weber discusses. How so?

In all probability, Baran was affected by the ascetic ethos that Weber discusses because Baran attempts to debunk existing stereotypes and dominating biases, which define the behavior of individuals and decisions being taken in different fields of life. In such a context, his trial was affected by homophobia influencing the jury’s verdict. In this regard, Baran has been affected by the ascetic ethos discussed by Weber, which challenged the dominant norms and values.