Negative Liberties

Patell, Cyrus R. K.

doi:10.1215/9780822380672

Cited by 93 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The supreme Calvinist hero Calvin born and living during the 16th century (1509-1564) is the child of traditionalism or premodernity, such as medievalism and feudal aristocracy (Benedict, 1999;Eisenstadt, 1965;Heller, 1986;Walzer, 1965), as are other early Calvinist heroes, from his heir Beza to his Puritan disciples like Winthrop and Cromwell. In turn, Franklin and even more later capitalist heroes, like Jefferson and other proto-liberals-democrats (Mueller, 2009;Pellicani, 2013), of the 18th and 19th centuries are the children of modernity, in particular the Enlightenment (Patell, 2001;Phelps, 2007). As known, Franklin, like Jefferson and Paine, lives for some time in Paris at the height of the Enlightenment and is greatly affected by the latter.…”

Section: The Heroic Ages and Heroes Of Calvinism And Modern Capitalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even in America, American Calvinism-cum-Puritanism is mostly superseded by the Enlightenment (Davis and Robinson, 2009;Bremer, 1995;Patell, 2001;Phelps, 2007) during the late 18th century, then disestablished as a theocratic religion over the early 19th century (Barro and McCleary, 2005;Gould, 1996;Howe, 1972;Kaufman, 2008;Kloppenberg, 1998), and sunk like the Atlantis (Fullerton, 1928) or doomed (Hollinger, 1980). Reportedly, even if, as German historian Leopold von Ranke put it, 'Calvin was virtually the founder of America' through his disciples, the Puritan pilgrims, his theocratic vision of society has not prevailed (Davis, 2010) and himself has become persona non grata (Crocco, 2010) since that time.…”

Section: The Secret French Connection From Calvin's France To Calvinmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A neglected gap in the Weber thesis? The long economic lag of capitalism from Protestantism

Zafirovski

2019

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This article identifies and explains a certain previously undetected or downplayed analytical problem in Max Weber's thesis arising from a causal link between Protestantism, above all Calvinism, and the emergence and expansion of modern capitalism as an economic 'spirit' and system. There is a manifest time gap or historical distance between original Calvinism and modern capitalism spanning several centuries. More specifically, there is an 'economic lag' of modern capitalism, defined by the Weber thesis as emerging and expanding mostly during the late 18th and 19th centuries, orthodox Calvinism and generally the Protestant Reformation arising and spreading in the 16th century. This article investigates whether such a capitalist lag behind its assumed religious source is exceedingly protracted to posit an effective causal relationship, a plausible congruence and an affinity between Calvinism and modern capitalism as the Weber thesis does. This article identifies two different religious-economic configurations: first, the rise and diffusion of Calvinism and the absence of capitalism, second, the emergence and expansion of modern capitalism and the decline of Calvinism. I infer that the salient economic lag of modern capitalism from Calvinism casts serious doubt on their direct causal link and thus on the Weber thesis, giving the fact that the assumption of lagged effects of the second on the first variable does not provide an adequate solution. This article aims to contribute toward a further clarification and examination of the Weber thesis and generally of the relationship between religious values and modern economy and society.

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Section: The Heroic Ages and Heroes Of Calvinism And Modern Capitalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Secret French Connection From Calvin's France To Calvinmentioning

confidence: 99%

A neglected gap in the Weber thesis? The long economic lag of capitalism from Protestantism

Zafirovski

2019

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“…In Durkheim's terms, Puritan social “pathology” is epitomized and symbolized by the primitive penal system typified with inflicting “suffering” and punishment for transgressions with “Draconian severity” (Patell 2001), notably its original and persistent use of the death penalty for a remarkably wide range of sins‐crimes (equated). For instance, to indicate a basic continuity in applying such punishment, 17 th century New England's “Biblical Commonwealth” punished with death (as Tocqueville registers) adultery, blasphemy, sorcery, and other sins‐crimes, and the 21 st century “Bible Garden” (and the federal government) does, actually or potentially, similar sinful behaviors, such as drug trade and some sexual offenses (rape, etc.).…”

Section: The “Iron Law” Of Puritanism and Authoritarianismmentioning

confidence: 99%