The Protestant Ethic Debate: Weber's Replies to His Critics, 1907-1910 (Studies in Social and Political Thought, 3) (Volume 3)

Max WeberвЂTMs The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism continues to be one of the most influential texts in the sociology of modern Western societies. Although Weber never produced the further essays with which he intended to extend the study, he did complete four lengthy Replies to reviews of the text by two German historians. Written between 1907 and 1910, the Replies offer a fascinating insight into WeberвЂTMs intentions in the original study, and the present volume is the first complete translation of all four Replies in English. "Max Weber's famous study of 1904-05, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, has been, and continues to be, one of the most influential texts in the sociology of modern Western societies. However, not all readers realise that the original was not meant to stand alone in the form in which we know it today. Weber always intended to extend the study with further instalments in the journal he edited with Werner Sombart and Edgar Jaffe, the Archiv fur Sozialwissenschaft und Sozialpolitik. Although he never in fact produced these essays, he did, instead, complete four lengthy Replies or 'Antikritiken' to reviews of the text by two German historians of the day, H. Karl Fischer and Felix Rachfahl. Written between 1907 and 1910, the Replies offer a fascinating insight into Weber's intentions in the original study, and the present volume is the first complete translation of all four Replies in English. Ranging across such crucial issues as the differences between Lutheranism and Calvinism, the spirit of the Renaissance and the definition of capitalism, the Replies clarify key aspects of the hypothesis about an 'elective affinity' between Protestant asceticism and rational economic 'conduct of life'. In keeping with the high standards of philological accuracy currently expected among Weber scholars - standards once notoriously neglected by his first English translator from the 1930s, Talcott Parsons - the present translation makes a point of preserving Weber's dense and often highly vituperative style, and is preceded by an introductory essay outlining the key significance of the Replies for our contemporary reception of Weber's complex sociological corpus."--BOOK JACKET Max Weber's 'replies' Complement His Protestant Ethic Study And Its Critics Reviews. They Look At The Renaissance Spirit And The Definition Of Capitalism, Lutheranism And Calvinism, Clarifying The Hypothesis About An 'elective Affinity' Between Protestant Asceticism And Economic 'conduct Of Life'. 1. Karl Fischer's Review Of The Protestant Ethic, 1907 -- 2. Weber's First Reply To Fischer, 1907 -- 3. Karl Fischers Reply To Weber, 1908 -- 4. Weber's Second Reply To Fischer, 1908 -- 5. Felix Rachfahl's Review Of The Protestant Ethic, 1909 -- 6. Weber's First Reply To Rachfahl, 1910 -- 7. Felix Rachfahl's Reply To Weber, 1910 -- 8. Weber's Second Reply To Rachfahl, 1910. Edited By David J. Chalcraft And Austin Harrington ; Translated By Austin Harrington And Mary Shields. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 133-140) And Index. Translated From The German. Title Page......Page 4 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgements......Page 7 Introduction......Page 10 Translators’ Note......Page 29 Part I......Page 32 1: Karl Fischer’s Review of The Protestant Ethic, 1907......Page 36 2: Weber’s First Reply to Karl Fischer, 1907......Page 39 Part II......Page 47 3: Karl Fischer’s Reply to Weber, 1908......Page 50 4: Weber’s Second Reply to Karl Fischer, 1908......Page 52 Part III......Page 61 5: Felix Rachfahl’s Review of The Protestant Ethic, 1909......Page 64 6: Weber’s First Reply to Felix Rachfahl, 1910......Page 70 Part IV......Page 96 7: Felix Rachfahl’s Reply to Weber, 1910......Page 98 8: Weber’s Second Reply to Rachfahl, 1910......Page 102 Bibliography......Page 142 Index......Page 150 ISBN-13: 9780853239765 Title Page 4 Contents 6 Acknowledgements 7 Introduction 10 Translators’ Note 29 Part I 32 1: Karl Fischer’s Review of The Protestant Ethic, 1907 36 2: Weber’s First Reply to Karl Fischer, 1907 39 Part II 47 3: Karl Fischer’s Reply to Weber, 1908 50 4: Weber’s Second Reply to Karl Fischer, 1908 52 Part III 61 5: Felix Rachfahl’s Review of The Protestant Ethic, 1909 64 6: Weber’s First Reply to Felix Rachfahl, 1910 70 Part IV 96 7: Felix Rachfahl’s Reply to Weber, 1910 98 8: Weber’s Second Reply to Rachfahl, 1910 102 Bibliography 142 Index 150 Liverpool,University,Press Liverpool University Press