The Capitalist Future: a Consequence of Calvinist Annunciation

In his work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Weber predicts that the future will be a world of 'mechanized perfection' devoid of 'religious and ethical meaning.' In this world modern capitalism becomes a self sustaining system no longer needing the Calvinist religious impetus that had inspired the work ethic. Weber argues that the future will be a capitalistic society, where the proletariat and the bourgeoisie alike, will not be driven by religious motivation, but instead by a constant struggle to benefit from the system. He reasons that this future of the capitalist society is a direct consequence of the teachings of Calvinism.
The Calvinist work ethic of 'living to work' forms the core of modern capitalism. …