Die Protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus. Werk-Wirkung-Kritik

Abstract

The following paper deals with „the Protestant Ethics and the Spirit of Capitalism (PE) which is one of the most famous books of the sociologist and cultural historian Max Weber. The main theses will be analyzed, since the work is of unchanged relevance. To understand Weber‘s view, the PE will be related to its epistemological and methodical program. In addition, the focus will be on the question of the link between individual action and social structure. Therefore, the theory of Berger/Luckmann about the social construction of reality will be part of the paper to get a better understanding of those interdependent aspects. Finally, a critical view about the PE and its reception in contemporary cultural theories will be given.