WEBER AND THE LUXURY CONSUMPTION: A DISCUSSION ABOUT “THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM”

Abstract

The magnitude of the sociologist Max Weber’s studies is undeniable in the Social Sciences history, but does his book, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, explain the luxury consumption nowadays? In this article, it is going to be demonstrated some critiques of this book of Weber, made by authors who believe that the sociologist has disdained some important data that influenced the whole society in the 17th century, as the fashion, the value of romantic love and the European society outlook in general. Campbell, for example, says that because this “historical segmentation” Weber had ignored important social changes. If, when it was written, Weber’s book could not explain the luxury consumption, this fact is more evident nowadays, whereas the asceticism is not predominant in the occidental societies and even developing countries have consumed luxury articles.