Max Weber, Capitalism and the Religion of India

In: Sociology: the journal of the British Sociological Association, Band 16, Heft 4, S. 526-543

Abstract

This paper examines Max Weber's `The Religion of India' and places it in the wider context of his work. It tries to show in detail how Weber's study of India formed part of the comparative analysis of world civilizations which was the natural result of his interest in the causal antecedents of the rise of industrial capitalism in the West. With this background correctly understood, it is possible to appreciate why Weber approached Indian religion in the way that he did, and to avoid some common mistakes. Weber is summarized on the most important aspects of Indian religion and a brief attempt is made to state how valid his remarks still are.