Practice Passage Test - 15 | Practice Passages for MCAT PDF Download

During the era of Catholic Feudalism, the spirit of capitalism faced its most significant opposition from traditional beliefs about wealth. People did not naturally have a desire to accumulate more and more money; they simply wanted to maintain their accustomed way of life and earn enough for survival. However, when modern capitalism began to increase labor productivity by intensifying work, it faced strong resistance from the deeply ingrained characteristic of pre-capitalistic labor. The rise of new religious movements, particularly Protestantism, and the ethical principles associated with them, played a crucial role in shaping rational economic behavior. In this context, the connection between the spirit of modern economic capitalism and the ethical values of ascetic Protestantism becomes apparent. The spirit of capitalism emerged from the Protestant Reformation of the Catholic Church.

To comprehend the link between the core religious ideas of ascetic Protestantism and their influence on everyday economic conduct, it is necessary to understand the religious teachings of English Puritanism, which derived from the Calvinist reform of the Catholic Church. The wasting of time was considered the most severe sin, and any loss of time due to socializing, idle talk, luxury, or excessive sleep beyond what was necessary for health was morally condemned. 

Although the concept of "time is money" had not yet emerged as it does in modern ethos, time was considered infinitely valuable because every hour lost meant a missed opportunity to labor for the glory of God. Wealth was regarded as ethically bad only to the extent that it tempted people towards idleness and sinful enjoyment of life. Acquisition of wealth was seen as negative only if it aimed at living a carefree and frivolous existence. The emphasis on the ascetic importance of having a specific "calling" provided an ethical justification for the specialized division of labor seen in modern society. Protestant asceticism restrained the enjoyment of possessions, especially luxurious ones, while encouraging the acquisition of goods, as it was viewed as directly willed by God. 

The ascetic campaign against worldly temptations and reliance on material possessions was not a rejection of rational acquisition, but rather a rejection of irrational use of wealth. In contrast to the ostentatious displays of wealth in Catholic feudal society, which preferred a shallow elegance over modest simplicity, Protestant ascetics promoted the idea of a clean and comfortable middle-class home as an ideal. 

When the limitation of consumption through asceticism combined with increased acquisitive activity, the practical outcome was evident: the accumulation of capital driven by the compulsive urge to save. Asceticism condemned the pursuit of riches for its own sake, but obtaining wealth as a result of labor within one's calling was seen as a sign of God's blessing. The combination of a simpler lifestyle and significant wealth led to a strong inclination toward capital accumulation. The influence of the Puritan worldview greatly supported the development of a rational bourgeois economic life and played the most significant and consistent role in its formation. It can be considered the foundation of the modern economic man.