The Protestant Ethic Thesis: An Internal Critque

The Protestant Ethic versus the "New Ethic"

Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic in the 21st Century∗

The history of sociology’s most famous study began with the publication of a two-part essay. Its author, educated as a lawyer but formerly employed as a national economist, had no formal training in its subject. He had just overcome a mood disorder that had debilitated him and all but finished his promising academic career, allowing his wife to become better known in some academic and social ci...

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

'Max Weber is the one undisputed canonical figure in contemporary sociology.' The Times Higher Education Supplement 'Weber's essay is certainly one of the most fruitful examinations of the relations between religion and social theory which has appeared, and I desire to acknowledge my indebtedness to it.' All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any...

The Protestant Ethic and Work: Micro Evidence from Contemporary Germany

Few studies in the social sciences have spurred more controversy than Max Weber’s The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. At the core of Weber’s theory lies a connection between Protestantism and attitudes toward work. Using micro-data from contemporary Germany, this paper investigates the impact of Protestantism on economic outcomes and whether any such connection still exists. To b...

The Protestant work ethic and attitudes towards unemployment

The literature on personal correlates of Protestant work ethic beliefs and the relationship between these beliefs and various aspects of paid work is briefly reviewed. A study is described which examines the relationship between Protestant work ethic beliefs and attitudes to unemployment. Subjects rated the importance of various explanations for unemployment in Britain, as well as their agreeme...