Discussion Post Questions

DISCUSSION POST

Please scroll and contribute at least 2 posts to this Discussion Board on at least 2 distinct questions threads. Each post will be given points for the following:

1) adequate length (approximately 200 words)

2) clarity and good writing

3) including a specific example

4) including an in-text citation (to either assigned or extra material must use a proper citation format) – The citation should come from course readings, films, or outside sources (Prof Douglas’s lessons don’t count).

Example (author, page number)

5) including a question that you are left with.

To receive full credit, be sure to add something new to the thread and answer the question directly.

You can review a list of the questions posted below.

DISCUSSION REPLY

Please scroll and contribute at least 2 responses to your peers on this discussion board. Each post will be given points for the following:

1) adequate length (approximately 150 words)

2) clarity and good writing

3) addressing the original prompt and the student response

Example (author, page number)

5) including a question you are left with after reading your peers’ response

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These are the questions for Discussion Post #5 in Week 10. Please respond in your Discussion Section board. Remember that there are two parts to the assignment.

Choose two of the questions below and post a response to each. Submit those two response posts by 11:59pm this Friday 6/5.
Post two replies to other students’ responses by 11:59pm this Friday 6/5.

PLEASE RESPOND TO TWO OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

What sort of new inequalities did (and does) capitalism tend to produce in nation-states? How were new kinds of inequality built into the newly formed capitalist “modern” nation-states of the late 1500s and 1600s? How was this structured differently from the inequalities found in feudalist or tributary systems? How did England shift to its first constitutional monarchs and a parliamentary capitalist system? Who had political power in the newly formed capitalist nation-states? What inequalities still exist in capitalist nation-states that may be traced back to this history?
What is a “calling” according to Weber? How did Luther understand and promote the idea? How was the concept taken up with capitalism? What influence did Calvinist beliefs have? What examples do you see today of this concept of a “calling”?
In The Spirit of Capitalism, Weber talks about how wasting time was a sin for many protestants, particularly Puritans. What was the basis of this belief? What does that belief promote? Give an example of how this way of thinking may still has influence today.
Among what class was Calvinism popular and why? What were Catholic and Lutheran ideas about accumulating wealth? How did the beliefs of Calvinists differ? Calvinists believe in predestination. What is predestination? What is the point of accumulating wealth if one believes in predestination? What were Calvin’s political views and how did this lead to increased political power of the middle classes and the rise of capitalism according to Weber? How is this different from Blaut’s analysis of the rise of capitalism?
What was the Peace of Westphalia? How did it change political systems in Europe? How were the political and religious systems created at this time not religiously tolerant? How did the power of the Holy Roman Emperor shift with the Peace of Westphalia? How did the economic and political power of the pope shift with the Peace of Westphalia? What characteristics of our current political systems and structures stem from these changes in Europe?
Choose a current event and write about how it relates to one of the themes discussed in this class. Use course readings or films to show the relevance of course material to current events. What can the historical and anthropological perspectives we’ve discussed in this class contribute to current conversations?
Choose a point from the reading or one of the films that stood out to you from Week 10. Explain its significance. What is the most important thing from this class that you would teach someone else? How have your views/understandings changed as a result of taking this course?

Posts you need to reply:

Q3 Maki’s post:

In The Protestant Ethic and Spirit of Capitalism, Weber attempts to distinguish what he calls the “calling” for many protestants—the accumulation of wealth and capital through labor—with simple greed. Although Protestants understood their life goal as being the continuous accumulation of wealth, it was done, first and foremost, to please God (and therefore through an ascetic standpoint) rather than to enjoy worldly possessions and luxury.1 In fact, Weber argues that Protestants, especially Puritans, were strictly against the use of money for enjoyment such as drinking, sports, and other temptations of the flesh. These activities were “distraction[s] from the pursuit of a righteous life,”1 and did not glorify God. Spending money on personal enjoyment was seen as a waste of time, for it did not “[serve] to increase the glory of God.”1 This belief promotes the “spirit of capitalism” and is a “moral justification of worldly activity” as well as the “ethical justification of the modern specialized division of labor.”1 It justifies making profit through collecting loans and interests as well as the exploitation of others, so long as the profit was not spent on unnecessary luxury. In the modern world, the latter part has completely been forgotten, but the idea that lack of wealth is due to laziness still remains. In the U.S., this “pulling oneself up from the bootstrap” attitude exists and is extremely detrimental because it blames the poor and oppressed for their problems instead of acknowledging the history of capitalism that has kept wealthy white men in power since its beginnings.

My question is, after you accumulate the wealth, what then? How much could they possibly just keep saving?

Reference

Weber M. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. University of Virginia American Studies Program; 2001.

Q4 Artin’s post:

Calvinism was believed in highly by most classes; however, only the upper classes really practiced Calvinism. Princes and nobility were the main groups that followed the ideology. This was because it was based on materialism and wealth, giving them some of the middle class and upper class this attraction to Calvinism. The difference between Catholic teachings and Lutheran teachings was that Lutherans had less emphasis on money. Calvinists had a different take on money. The money would need to be made based on work ethic. I found it really interesting how they believed “Lending and profit-making should be permitted…never simply to build personal wealth.” (Calvinism and Capitalism…) Predestination was the idea that life is planned and God has made a path for you before you are born. Wealth is accumulated in order to give a push to this idea and show God that one’s work ethic should give him/her a good life. It is also meant to be carried on to their afterlife. Calvin’s political views included reformation and a state to church relationship. This increased power in the middle class as wealth brought upon the ability to control both the state and also the churches. This is different from Blaut’s argument as one talked about the rise of power in the Church and the other talked about the rise of power in the people. I am just left with the question as to how these Calvinists really transitioned into such a capitalistic society?

Gordon, B. “Calvinism and Capitalism: Together Again?” Yale University. June 04, 2020.

Subject: History

This is the book for this class – attached

Answer preview……………………….

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