Food for thought
Dec. 25th, 2003 08:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tarigwaemirAd Mundo Exteriore,
According to Weber, the "spirit" of capitalism arose as a radically new approach to the business of making money: that is, in fact making money was no longer simply a "business" but a vocation, and to devote oneself to the garnering of profit was in fact a moral lifestyle. The goal was not to enjoy the wealth earned, but to be diligent in the work of earning it.
He writes: "The aim of a man's life is indeed moneymaking, but this is no longer merely the means to the end of satisfying the material needs of life. This reversal (incomprehensible to the superficial observer) of what we might call the "natural" state of affairs is a definite leitmotiv of capitalism, although it will always be alien to anyone who is untouched by capitalism's aura. At the same time it contains a line of thought that comes very close to certain religious ideas. ... Moneymaking--provided it is done legally-- is, within the mdoern economic order, the result and the expression of diligence in one's calling and this diligence is, it is not difficult to recognize the real alpha and omega of Franklin's morality".
(Weber uses italics like a romantic schoolgirl. I'm not sure if the effect is more due to the translation--since whole English phrases are probably summed up by a single German word--but nevertheless, the italics had to be there somewhere in the original text.)
He dwells often on a dichotomy of perspectives: the "traditionalist" attitude that believes that one must earn just enough to survive and to want more is to be avaricious, versus this new "capitalist" attitude that maintains that one must expend all one's energies in the pursuit of one's calling, which in this case happens to be making mone. The former tends to prolong "subsistence" economies, where each individual makes exactly enough for his own well-being, and becomes a huge obstacle to capitalist development, since capitalism is all about maximizing productivity and growth. He cites an interesting example of how raising wages for piecework actually lowers productivity, since workers who are still caught in the traditionalist attitude will only make enough to earn the same wages as they did before and the higher rates mean that less work will bring the same aount of money.
I believe his point is then that the capitalist "spirit" is what optimizes a capitalist economy and makes it successful, although Weber has been rather confusing with all his disclaimers about how the "spirit" and the "form" of an economy are not dependent on each other. (He has a long passage explaining how a capitalist economy can still be traditionalist in character while the capitalist spirit can still exist in a traditional economy.) If they aren't dependent, then what connects the "spirit" of capitalism with capitalism anyway? I'm assuming he means to say that the "spirit" is what promotes capitalist development and that while an economy can be capitalist in form but traditionalist in character, it will remain severely limited as long as it cannot undergo this revolution of ideas (in addition to the revolution in production).
I find this argument interesting because what he is effectively praising is this attitude of "diligence", which to me seems not so different from my own personal concept of "integrity". He is saying that the revolution lies in the idea of making money being a calling rather than a simple occupation, but the ethic is that one must pursue this calling by investing all one's personal time and energy. The goal is no longer the product (i.e. money or wealth) but the process of production. Thus, what has been regarded as a rather sordid and at best amoral activity acquires a certain sense of nobility. Likewise, for me, schoolwork has always been a matter of total commitment. That is, again, the goal is not the product, in this case high grades, but the process of production, which translates to roughly how much of my lifeblood I pour out in order to assimilate and reconfigure the knowledge into understanding.
The "spirit" that Weber writes of can be summed up as simply letting no action be superficial or trivial. The content of the action is not so important as how it is done. You live so that each and every act carries meaning, that nothing is frivolous or liable to be regretted. My parents have indoctrinated me with the concept that I must never begin what I cannot finish, that I must never commit without the willingness to accept the total responsibility of that commitment. It's an ideal that I've not always managed to fulfill, but still, it's there, as an underlying value structure for my decisions.
Which brings me to kendo, because there was an unusual parallel, I felt, between Weber and this excerpt from Kendo Reader by Noma Hisashi (courtesy of the club mailing list, heh):
" 'Why do it?' Before starting any activity this is the first question that naturally comes to mind, and when one has fully satisfied oneself as to the reasons for doing it and the task is begun, not only does one feel reassured that one's efforts will not be misplaced, but one is also able to concentrate all one's strength on what is crucial for its achievement; consequently the task comes to life. ... but if we try hard to seek answers to "Why do it" then our doubts and confusion will only increase, resulting in an unmanageable situation. Honen Shonin (1133-1212), founder of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, is recorded to have said, 'Just continue, single-mindedly with the invocation' is a shortcut to nirvana."
The parallel may seem a bit obscure, I guess, but the thing is, what Weber was saying was so revolutionary about the "spirit" of capitalism was that the first real entrepreneurs stopped questioning "why make money?" (and the related question, "is it right to make money?") and placed the ethic in the diligent and single-minded pursuit of making money with all their energy.
And indeed, despite Weber's (rather snarky) comment about the lack of the capitalist "spirit" in Asian economies, I do think this concept of the neverending pursuit of one's vocation is pretty central to Asian cultures. I don't know whether to trace it to Confucian "integrity" or to the Buddhist pursuit of enlightenment, but regardless of source, I believe it's there. In fact, it's probably best embodied in the concept of do or tao (that is, the "way" or "path"), which the Kendo Reader writes about for pages and pages. ^_^ What I found particularly inspiring was the idea that no matter what the form of the "path", its ultimate destination (not, of course, its immediate or proximate product or reward) is the same.
"People believe that the reason for mastering swordsmanship is to be able to cut down one's enemies. For myself, however, I seek to master swordsmanship because through it I seek divine principle. If once I attain this, my heart will be as still water, calm and quiet, like a clear mirror lucid and bright, able to cope instantly with any situation. For when faced with any incident my spirit will react of its own. Of what comes to pass, my comprehension of it will be instantaneous. To truly attain to this plane is to be one with the Way of Heaven. Throughout earnest training and by clearing the mind (Kokoro), I seek only to awaken to the one root principle of the Heavens."
And if you'll forgive me for applying religion once again, I'd just like to assert that it is my conviction that attaining such peace is what it means to encounter God. To successfully live your life with total commitment to your vocation is the equivalent of that story of the salt doll dissolving in the ocean, that is, to submerge and drown yourself in something much, much larger than a single human individual. It is, as Lyd-chan likes to say, an experience of transcendence.
On a much more prosaic note, did you notice that once I'm at home and actually reading on my own again, I indulge in these long, often pointless thought rambles much more frequently? It must be the happy coincidence of having more books in my near vicinity, more limited Internet access and a whole lot more free time on my hands. ^_^
...Tari
According to Weber, the "spirit" of capitalism arose as a radically new approach to the business of making money: that is, in fact making money was no longer simply a "business" but a vocation, and to devote oneself to the garnering of profit was in fact a moral lifestyle. The goal was not to enjoy the wealth earned, but to be diligent in the work of earning it.
He writes: "The aim of a man's life is indeed moneymaking, but this is no longer merely the means to the end of satisfying the material needs of life. This reversal (incomprehensible to the superficial observer) of what we might call the "natural" state of affairs is a definite leitmotiv of capitalism, although it will always be alien to anyone who is untouched by capitalism's aura. At the same time it contains a line of thought that comes very close to certain religious ideas. ... Moneymaking--provided it is done legally-- is, within the mdoern economic order, the result and the expression of diligence in one's calling and this diligence is, it is not difficult to recognize the real alpha and omega of Franklin's morality".
(Weber uses italics like a romantic schoolgirl. I'm not sure if the effect is more due to the translation--since whole English phrases are probably summed up by a single German word--but nevertheless, the italics had to be there somewhere in the original text.)
He dwells often on a dichotomy of perspectives: the "traditionalist" attitude that believes that one must earn just enough to survive and to want more is to be avaricious, versus this new "capitalist" attitude that maintains that one must expend all one's energies in the pursuit of one's calling, which in this case happens to be making mone. The former tends to prolong "subsistence" economies, where each individual makes exactly enough for his own well-being, and becomes a huge obstacle to capitalist development, since capitalism is all about maximizing productivity and growth. He cites an interesting example of how raising wages for piecework actually lowers productivity, since workers who are still caught in the traditionalist attitude will only make enough to earn the same wages as they did before and the higher rates mean that less work will bring the same aount of money.
I believe his point is then that the capitalist "spirit" is what optimizes a capitalist economy and makes it successful, although Weber has been rather confusing with all his disclaimers about how the "spirit" and the "form" of an economy are not dependent on each other. (He has a long passage explaining how a capitalist economy can still be traditionalist in character while the capitalist spirit can still exist in a traditional economy.) If they aren't dependent, then what connects the "spirit" of capitalism with capitalism anyway? I'm assuming he means to say that the "spirit" is what promotes capitalist development and that while an economy can be capitalist in form but traditionalist in character, it will remain severely limited as long as it cannot undergo this revolution of ideas (in addition to the revolution in production).
I find this argument interesting because what he is effectively praising is this attitude of "diligence", which to me seems not so different from my own personal concept of "integrity". He is saying that the revolution lies in the idea of making money being a calling rather than a simple occupation, but the ethic is that one must pursue this calling by investing all one's personal time and energy. The goal is no longer the product (i.e. money or wealth) but the process of production. Thus, what has been regarded as a rather sordid and at best amoral activity acquires a certain sense of nobility. Likewise, for me, schoolwork has always been a matter of total commitment. That is, again, the goal is not the product, in this case high grades, but the process of production, which translates to roughly how much of my lifeblood I pour out in order to assimilate and reconfigure the knowledge into understanding.
The "spirit" that Weber writes of can be summed up as simply letting no action be superficial or trivial. The content of the action is not so important as how it is done. You live so that each and every act carries meaning, that nothing is frivolous or liable to be regretted. My parents have indoctrinated me with the concept that I must never begin what I cannot finish, that I must never commit without the willingness to accept the total responsibility of that commitment. It's an ideal that I've not always managed to fulfill, but still, it's there, as an underlying value structure for my decisions.
Which brings me to kendo, because there was an unusual parallel, I felt, between Weber and this excerpt from Kendo Reader by Noma Hisashi (courtesy of the club mailing list, heh):
" 'Why do it?' Before starting any activity this is the first question that naturally comes to mind, and when one has fully satisfied oneself as to the reasons for doing it and the task is begun, not only does one feel reassured that one's efforts will not be misplaced, but one is also able to concentrate all one's strength on what is crucial for its achievement; consequently the task comes to life. ... but if we try hard to seek answers to "Why do it" then our doubts and confusion will only increase, resulting in an unmanageable situation. Honen Shonin (1133-1212), founder of the Jodo sect of Buddhism, is recorded to have said, 'Just continue, single-mindedly with the invocation' is a shortcut to nirvana."
The parallel may seem a bit obscure, I guess, but the thing is, what Weber was saying was so revolutionary about the "spirit" of capitalism was that the first real entrepreneurs stopped questioning "why make money?" (and the related question, "is it right to make money?") and placed the ethic in the diligent and single-minded pursuit of making money with all their energy.
And indeed, despite Weber's (rather snarky) comment about the lack of the capitalist "spirit" in Asian economies, I do think this concept of the neverending pursuit of one's vocation is pretty central to Asian cultures. I don't know whether to trace it to Confucian "integrity" or to the Buddhist pursuit of enlightenment, but regardless of source, I believe it's there. In fact, it's probably best embodied in the concept of do or tao (that is, the "way" or "path"), which the Kendo Reader writes about for pages and pages. ^_^ What I found particularly inspiring was the idea that no matter what the form of the "path", its ultimate destination (not, of course, its immediate or proximate product or reward) is the same.
"People believe that the reason for mastering swordsmanship is to be able to cut down one's enemies. For myself, however, I seek to master swordsmanship because through it I seek divine principle. If once I attain this, my heart will be as still water, calm and quiet, like a clear mirror lucid and bright, able to cope instantly with any situation. For when faced with any incident my spirit will react of its own. Of what comes to pass, my comprehension of it will be instantaneous. To truly attain to this plane is to be one with the Way of Heaven. Throughout earnest training and by clearing the mind (Kokoro), I seek only to awaken to the one root principle of the Heavens."
And if you'll forgive me for applying religion once again, I'd just like to assert that it is my conviction that attaining such peace is what it means to encounter God. To successfully live your life with total commitment to your vocation is the equivalent of that story of the salt doll dissolving in the ocean, that is, to submerge and drown yourself in something much, much larger than a single human individual. It is, as Lyd-chan likes to say, an experience of transcendence.
On a much more prosaic note, did you notice that once I'm at home and actually reading on my own again, I indulge in these long, often pointless thought rambles much more frequently? It must be the happy coincidence of having more books in my near vicinity, more limited Internet access and a whole lot more free time on my hands. ^_^
...Tari
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Date: 2003-12-25 07:14 pm (UTC)pointless she says...
Date: 2003-12-25 10:48 pm (UTC)=)
[it is an interesting thought though... or should i call it collection of thoughts? hoorah, meaning has been given to these life processes!]
happy christmas and a merry new year!
~danica