<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Max Weber’s thesis on the decisive influence of Protestant ethic on the formation and development of modern capitalism has become one of the best-known and widely shared canonical claims in social sciences. Since its publication at the beginning of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, this thesis, supported by subsequent great works by the German classic, has rarely been the subject of major controversy. The work of correcting Weber’s thesis was undertaken in the late 20th century by Michael Novak. Novak’s correction is not confrontational, but complementary. The American thinker abandons the research area of minority Protestant communities, which caught Weber’s attention, and undertakes an analysis of the broader religious tradition, developing both before and after the Reformation. In particular, the achievements of Pope John Paul II, interpreted by Novak in terms of the renewal of a liberty current of Catholic social thought, provide important corrective data.</p>
</abstract>

Max Weber’s thesis on the decisive influence of Protestant ethic on the formation and development of modern capitalism has become one of the best-known and widely shared canonical claims in social sciences. Since its publication at the beginning of the 20th century, this thesis, supported by subsequent great works by the German classic, has rarely been the subject of major controversy. The work of correcting Weber’s thesis was undertaken in the late 20th century by Michael Novak. Novak’s correction is not confrontational, but complementary. The American thinker abandons the research area of minority Protestant communities, which caught Weber’s attention, and undertakes an analysis of the broader religious tradition, developing both before and after the Reformation. In particular, the achievements of Pope John Paul II, interpreted by Novak in terms of the renewal of a liberty current of Catholic social thought, provide important corrective data.

A Catholic correction of Max Weber’s thesis on Protestant ethic in the view of Michael Novak

Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw

Ethics & Bioethics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Max Weber’s thesis on the decisive influence of Protestant ethic on the formation and development of modern capitalism has become one of the best-known and...

A Catholic correction of Max Weber’s thesis on Protestant ethic in the view of Michael Novak

Published Online: Dec 09, 2023

Page range: 118 - 126

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2023-0014

Keywords
inner-worldly asceticism, Catholic ethic, Protestant ethic, creativity, modern capitalism, calling, John Paul II

© 2023 Dariusz Góra, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

A Catholic correction of Max Weber’s thesis on Protestant ethic in the view of Michael Novak

Published Online: Dec 09, 2023

Page range: 118 - 126

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ebce-2023-0014

Keywordsinner-worldly asceticism, Catholic ethic, Protestant ethic, creativity, modern capitalism, calling, John Paul II

© 2023 Dariusz Góra, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
inner-worldly asceticism, Catholic ethic, Protestant ethic, creativity, modern capitalism, calling, John Paul II