On Max Weber: Universal Values and Validation of European Culture

In light of the pre-class blog requirement I wanted to bring particular focus to Max Weber's text: "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism", in which he posits that western empirical knowledge and european culture has largely validated how we come to understand what is culturally significant. It is through the European lens that scientifically justified rationalism shows an inclination for western social order and against non-western cultural paradigms. Weber notes that "Capitalism implies the pursuit of forever renewable profit", as opposed to the pursuit of monetary gain to sustain social welfare. His essays include other remarks on the sociology of theological wisdom however, the focus for this distinctly western thought pattern occupies a rational structure of universalism in regard to protestant ethics.

Because of this epistemology, development tends to reference social progress from the standpoint of opportunity and conceptual developments of free labor and open trade.

Weber sheds light on the degree of European notions of progress with respect to "technical applications of science" and what were the determining factors that encouraged a culturally biased validation of advancement. He questions: "How did it happen that scientific, artistic and economic development , as well as state-building, were not directed in China and India into those tracks of rationalization specific to the West? (Weber, 159) Part of the issue exists in the religious differences and political achievements of, for example ancient Greek civilization and ancient Confucian civilization. Ancient Greek culture begins with a philosophical interrogation of abstract forms, dialectic, and dualism. In contrast, Confucianism has an assumed primacy of relationships and dispenses with notions of dualism and abstract forms. Two very different takes on mans role in the world: one where man achieves notoriety in pursuit of ideal goods through rationalization and the other where man achieves notoriety in the strengthening of consummate relationships or sympathy for human existence (Ren).

http://www.worldsecuritynetwork.com/no_topic/Kumar-Dr.-Ravindra/Political-Morality-and-Confucianism-The-Interpretation-of-Li-Yi-and-Ren

Weber's Capitalism: Capitalism determines a form of paradigm for development: we can validate cultural advancement in the creation of technology, the proliferate of free trade, and a strong middle class.

Weber's Middle Class is rendered through an organization of particular features such as: free labor, natural sciences, controlled experimentation and innovative technological production,

After the class I hope to have a better understanding of how the protestant ethic dictates cultural significance in the western perspective.