Why Capitalism?

Weber took a look at the Protestant Ascetic anti-world ethic historically. In this worldview the tensions between the ideal and the real are central to their religious experience. This leads to mastery over the material world. They are always looking for the kingdom of God on Earth. Why did Capitalism begin in Britain when it did? Marx (Capital vol. 1; Part VIII), Engels (The Condition of the Working Class in England), Polanyi (The Great Transformation) and Eric Wolf (Europe and the People Without History) all took a turn in answering that question. See also E. P. Thompson The Making of the English Working Class.

Out of the Protestant experience the Catholic communal culture is replaced by a culture of rationality and individualism. Reason is used to devalue tradition. Each part of this new worldview is rationally integrated into a more efficient whole. All people no matter what position they have in society or their personal family histories are to be judged by the same standards. In bourgeois or capitalist society everyone gets what they deserve. Socialism is a natural rebellion to this historical trend.