franklin’s religion. protestant ancestors, hiding english bible
TRANSCRIPT
The nun living upstairs from Franklin
she had given all her estate to charitable uses, reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, and out of this sum she still gave a great deal in charity, living herself on watergruel only, and using no fire but to boil it. (48)
The nun living upstairs from Franklin
She look'd pale, but was never sick; and I give it as another instance on how small an income life and health may be supported. (49)
Franklin’s religionProtestant ancestors, hiding English BiblePuritan New EnglandPresbyterianPraises monastic life of woman living in garretBUT
Franklin’s religionProtestant ancestors, hiding English BiblePuritan New EnglandPresbyterianPraises monastic life of woman living in garret
BUTDoubts Revelation
Franklin’s doubtsBut I was scarce fifteen, when, after doubting by
turns of several points, as I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt of Revelation itself. (57)
Franklin’s doubtsBut I was scarce fifteen, when, after doubting by
turns of several points, as I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt of Revelation itself. (57)
Franklin’s doubts
Some books against Deism fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist. (57)
Franklin’s religionProtestant ancestors, hiding English BiblePuritan New EnglandPraises monastic life of woman living in garretBUTDoubts RevelationFounds Deist sect
Franklin’s religionProtestant ancestors, hiding English BiblePuritan New EnglandPraises quasi-monastic life of nun living in garretBUTDoubts RevelationFounds Deist sect. Deism: abstract creator god (deus), removed from specific confessions and forms of organized religion
Franklin’s ”essentials of every known religion”
That there is one God, who made all things.That he governs the world by his providence.That he ought to be worshiped by adoration,
prayer, and thanksgiving.But that the most acceptable service of God is
doing good to man.That the soul is immortal.And that God will certainly reward virtue and
punish vice either here or hereafter."
Franklin’s ”essentials of every known religion”
That there is one God, who made all things.That he governs the world by his providence.That he ought to be worshiped by adoration,
prayer, and thanksgiving.But that the most acceptable service of God is
doing good to man.That the soul is immortal.And that God will certainly reward virtue and
punish vice either here or hereafter."
Max Weber (1862 – 1920)
Study of world religions, incl.Confucianism and Taoism (China)Buddhism and Hinduism (India)
Max Weber (1862 – 1920)
Study of world religions, incl.Confucianism and Taoism (China)Buddhism and Hinduism (India)Ancient Judaism
Max Weber (1862 – 1920)
Study of world religions, incl.Confucianism and Taoism (China)Buddhism and Hinduism (India)Ancient JudaismChristianity
Max Weber (1862 – 1920)
Capitalism exists everywhereGreed (self-interest)Capitalist adventurers (irrational speculation)
Max Weber (1862 – 1920)
Capitalism exists everywhereGreed (self-interest)Capitalist adventurers (irrational speculation)War expenditures
Max Weber (1862 – 1920)
Capitalism exists everywhereBUTIt becomes a dominant system in Christian
countries
Max Weber (1862 – 1920)
Capitalism exists everywhereBUTIt becomes a dominant system in Christian
countriesANDIt thrives in Protestant countries as well as
Protestant areas of multi-confessional countries more than in Catholic ones
Spirit of Capitalism
Bourgeois capitalism:Peaceful organization of profit (containment of
raw greed or desire for profit)Rule of law
Spirit of Capitalism
Bourgeois capitalism:Peaceful organization of profit (containment of
raw greed or desire for profit)Rule of law Rationalization of capitalism (against irrational
speculation)
Spirit of Capitalism
Protestantism abolishes monasteries, but monasticism does not disappear. It is dispersed.
Spirit of Capitalism
Protestantism abolishes monasteries, but monasticism does not disappear. It is dispersed.
“Now every Christian had to be a monk all his life” (121)
“asceticism was carried out of monastic cells into everyday life and began to dominate worldly morality, it did its part in building the tremendous cosmos of the modern economic order" (181)
Spirit of Capitalism
Protestantism abolishes monasteries, but it does not disappear. It is dispersed.
“Now every Christian had to be a monk all his life” (121)
“asceticism was carried out of monastic cells into everyday life and began to dominate worldly morality, it did its part in building the tremendous cosmos of the modern economic order"
The nun living upstairs from Franklin
she had given all her estate to charitable uses, reserving only twelve pounds a year to live on, and out of this sum she still gave a great deal in charity, living herself on watergruel only, and using no fire but to boil it. (48)
The nun living upstairs from Franklin
She look'd pale, but was never sick; and I give it as another instance on how small an income life and health may be supported. (49)
What is worldly asceticism?
Benjamin Franklin: frugality and industryThis mean:Limits on consumption. Cradle of modern
economic man.
What is worldly asceticism?
Benjamin Franklin: frugality and industryThis mean:Limits on consumption. Cradle of modern
economic man.Work as ascetic practice, not a means to an end.
What is worldly asceticism?
Benjamin Franklin: frugality and industryThis mean:Limits on consumption. Cradle of modern
economic man.Work as ascetic practice, not a means to an end. Work as calling (vocation).
What is worldly asceticism?
Benjamin Franklin: frugality and industryThis mean:Limits on consumption. Cradle of modern
economic man.Work as ascetic practice, not means to an end.Work as calling (vocation).Fixed calling (Luther) justification for division of
labor.
Spirit of Capitalism
Ascetic importance of a fixed calling provided an ethical justification of the modern specialized division of labor.
Historical argument
Puritans created a culture of worldly asceticism that preceded capitalism but that happened to be perfect for capitalism, so capitalism seized it, used it, made it its own. This new capitalist order, however, worked against strict Puritan religiosity and led to the erosion of Puritan values. By then triumphant capitalism no longer needed worldly asceticism to thrive.
Spirit of Capitalism/Modernity
RationalizationDouble entry book keepingEconomic calculationMathematics
Spirit of Capitalism/Modernity
RationalizationDouble entry book keepingEconomic calculationMathematics
Disenchantment Monotheism, critique of miracles
Spirit of Capitalism/Modernity
RationalizationDouble entry book keepingEconomic calculationMathematics
Disenchantment Monotheism, critique of miraclesSystem of ethics (Franklin’s method)
Cultural explanation
The following study may thus perhaps in a modest way form a contribution to the understanding of the manner in which ideas become effective forces in history. (90)
Cultural explanation
“On the contrary, we only wish to ascertain whether and to what extent religious forces have taken part in the qualitative formation and the quantitative expansion of that spirit over the world. Furthermore, what concrete aspects of our capitalistic culture can be traced to them” (91)
Cultural explanation
“On the contrary, we only wish to ascertain whether and to what extent religious forces have taken part in the qualitative formation and the quantitative expansion of that spirit over the world. Furthermore, what concrete aspects of our capitalistic culture can be traced to them” (91)
Cultural explanation
Protestantism prepared the ground for capitalism without intending to do so.
This explains why capitalism emerged fully in Protestant countries, not Catholic ones, even though the financial center was in Northern Italy.
Spirit of Capitalism
Against materialism as historical method (Marxism):
Materialism explains ideas, beliefs, art, and culture through economic categories.
Weber, by contrast, explains capitalism through cultural categories.