Max Weber's 'The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism' (Part 1)

In this episode, we begin a close examination of Max Weber’s famous study The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. The text is surrounded by half-truths, myths, and so-called “common knowledge,” much of which we can hopefully debunk, nuance, and correct through careful reading. So, what is this text really about? And what does it tell us about the process of societal rationalization? Let’s find out.I use the following translation:Weber, M. (2002 [1904-5]). The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Other Writings (translated by P. Baehr & G. C. Wells). Penguin Books.