Marx, Weber and Capitalism

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how Karl Marx and Max Weber differ significantly in their views upon the origins, dynamics and future of capitalism. The paper relates that while Marx's and Weber's views on capitalism contain some points of general similarity, Marx is exclusively economic in his analysis, while Weber is willing to balance economics with culture.

From the Paper:

"It should be noted that while Marx and Weber disagree about many of aspects of capitalism, they are in agreement with respect to a few main points. For example, it is clear that both regard capitalism - as least within their own periods of writing - as a modern European phenomenon. However, their explanations for this are very different. Marx views capitalism purely in economic terms, and regards it as being predominantly a European phenomenon because Europe was the most economically advanced society of his time. In Marx's The Class Struggles in France he even indicates how national and regional differences in economic development necessarily determine the rate at which European societies are progressing towards revolutionary conditions (Marx 593)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Marx, Karl. The Marx-Engels Reader. Ed. Robert Tucker. New York:W.W. Norton, 1978.
• Weber, Max. The Protestant Work Ethic and the Spirit ofCapitalism. Trans. Talcott Parsons. Mineloa, NY: Dover, 2003.

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