I am REALLY tired. Which sucks. I hate being really tired.
But the point, really, is that my prof for comparative politics is all talking economics, and she's like "The protestant ethic directly caused the growth of capitalism in Western Europe." There's a famous book behind it, apparently. I think I've heard of it.
But really, let's go with a no on that one, unless anybody objects. I might explain that more when I'm awake, though.
Posted by Dwip at October 2, 2003 4:22 PMI've heard that sleep helps a lot when you're tired.
But who am I to talk? *roll eyes*
*looks at clock*
*yawns*
*stop playing games*
*decides to go to bed*
...
Maybe just one more game... =P
Posted by: BN_Chili at October 2, 2003 9:37 PMI thought it was the Jews that created capitalism. Or is that just moneylending? :p
Posted by: Whir at October 2, 2003 11:57 PMPlease to be explaining.
Posted by: Regina at October 3, 2003 3:15 PMWell, for the Protestant one, it's along the lines of "Protestantism encourages one to be all you can be in this world, which encourages the saving of money which in turn fuels capitalist development. Whereas previous Catholicism didn't promote this at all."
The Jewish one probably has a lot to do with the whole "Christians can't lend money" thing of the Middle Ages which meant that the Jews took over that particular business, which predictably made them rich. Or it did until the local prince needed some money. See: Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice.
My own explanation, and the one that it seems to me is favored by most historians these days, has a lot to do with the peculiar competetive drive of the Europeans, coupled with an evolution of technology and the influx of vast amounts of wealth from newfound trade post-1500.
This, of course, is likely too logical an explanation for a intro to politics course.
Posted by: Dwip at October 3, 2003 5:32 PM