![]() ![]() In Weber’s time, Marxism had sparked new enthusiasm for studying the origins of industrial capitalism in the West. Much of the controversy around Weber’s text stemmed in particular from the ways in which he responded to Karl Marx. All of these questions were at the forefront of scholars’ minds, and Weber’s text served to contribute to their ongoing conversations on these topics. These include the historical origins of capitalism, explaining religious influences in society, and the direction in which humanity was headed at the beginning of the 20th century. Weber’s text addresses a number of issues that were particularly pertinent in his own time. In many ways, controversy over the text was inevitable given the material Weber chose to analyze. However, this did not resolve the fact that the text’s central thesis was controversial. He would go on to revise the essay and add numerous explanatory footnotes for republication in 1920. ![]() When it was first published as a book in 1905, Weber’s work met with heavy criticism and confusion. Weber’s work must thus be contextualized both by the time of its publication, and by the historical period it concerned itself with. The text centers itself on a discussion of the 16th century Reformation period, and attempts to trace how this period influenced the capitalist values of Weber’s time. ![]() It evolved into a more cohesive work over time, as Weber incorporated responses to criticism and reworked some of his ideas. Weber’s text was first written in 1904 as a series of essays. ![]()
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