221
See also: Émile Durkheim 34–37 ■ Zygmunt Bauman 136–43 ■ Jeffrey Alexander 204–09 ■ Colin Campbell 234–35 ■
Karl Marx 254–59 ■ Bryan Wilson 278–79
drives modern economies and the
pursuit of wealth and profit. He
claims that this “work ethic” is
founded on the values of rationality,
calculability, individual self-
regulation, and gain.
The pursuit of profit
Weber’s focus on the part played by
cultural factors was partly intended
to counter Marx’s view that the rise
of capitalism was a natural and
inevitable process. Weber rejected
the notion that human history is
driven by underlying, inexorable
“laws” that determine the path
society will take.
The buying and selling of goods
and services for more than they are
worth is, Weber says, not unique
to capitalism. Throughout history
people have always traded with one
another with a view to accruing
profit. What is historically unique
to capitalism, he argues, is that the
pursuit of profit becomes an end
in itself. A modern-day example
is the transnational banking
group HSBC, which made a pre-tax
profit of US $22.6 billion in 2013.
If this profit was distributed
among all of the firm’s employees
they could stop working and still
live materially comfortable lives.
Instead, firms such as HSBC use
the profit they make to reinvest
in the corporation, improve its
efficiency, and pursue further profit.Where, wondered Weber, did this
ideal—the unrelenting pursuit of
profit, or wealth for wealth’s sake—
that animates the “work ethic” at
the heart of capitalism, actually
come from?
Weber believed that to answer
this question, we must look not
to changes in social solidarity or
technology but to one of the oldest
features of all human societies—
religion. He looks back in time
to religious developments that
were taking place in 16th-century ❯❯WORK AND CONSUMERISM
Roman Catholicism’s
corruption and other-
worldliness prompts
calls for change.The reformist notion
of “the calling” claims
religious duty and earning
a living are the same.A religiously inspired
work ethic develops with
a sense of duty animated
by “social usefulness.”An emphasis on
economic accumulation
fuels the new Protestant
“spirit of capitalism.”Capitalism’s religious roots
fade from view as its success
leads to the triumph
of secularization.The vast profits of the US retail
giant Walmart should, staff says, be
redirected into paying better wages.
The corporation came under scrutiny
in 2014 as a low-paying employer.