Wealth in Modern Capitalism
America has been and will always to be the greatest outlier in the entire world. Americans look, think, and act differently than the rest of the world, but perhaps the most notable difference is how differently the American people work. Americans work more hours than anyone else, and in turn take less breaks. A German sociologist, Max Weber, makes note of this in his book, “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” (1905). Weber uses the life and legacy of Benjamin Franklin to define what he describes as the “peculiar ‘ethic’” of American capitalism (Weber 16). Franklin’s never-ending pursuit of wealth certainly makes him worthy of this description, yet he is not the best fit for it. By defining wealth as freedom rather than money, Frederick Douglass is clearly the epitome of Weber’s “peculiar ethic.”
Benjamin Franklin was a naturally gifted individual and hard worker who wanted to be recognized as such. Throughout his life, Benjamin Franklin held many different positions in vastly different fields. For this reason, he is known just as well for his appearance on the Hundred Dollar bill as he is for his experiment with a kite and key. Not only did Franklin learn several different trades in his lifetime, he also made significant contributions to every field he entered. There is little shared occupational knowledge between a printer, politician, or scientist, but Benjamin Franklin’s intense work ethic flowed seamlessly from profession to profession. Of his numerous contributions to society, perhaps his most famous quotes pertain mostly to working hard, making a lot of money, and not spending any of it. Franklin prided himself not only on working hard, but working harder than others. In his autobiography “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin”, he describes working in a print house in London “…[he] carried up and down stairs a large form of types in each hand, when others carried but one in both hands.” (Franklin 34). Though this obviously boosted efficiency within the print house, it did not make Franklin himself any wealthier. The other printers see this as odd for obvious reasons, which validates Weber’s observation that, “…striving becomes understood completely as an end in itself – to such an extent that it appears… simply irrational,” (Weber 17). However, it directly contradicts what Weber describes as a “…duty of the individual to increase his wealth, which is assumed to be a self-defined interest [and end] in itself” (16). This is not to say Franklin did not seek wealth, as much of his autobiography details his frugality and determination. However, his autobiography also displays a strong urge to control his appearance. That Franklin wanted to be seen as a hard worker does not disqualify him as an example of the “spirit of modern capitalism,” but it does fall outside of Weber’s analysis.
Frederick Douglass is a perfect example of the never-ending need to work Weber discusses. Unlike Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Douglass is born into slavery – guaranteeing his life will consist of constant, grueling work. The circumstances of Douglass’ birth ironically fit Weber’s description of the American system perfectly. Weber describes modern capitalism as “…a vast cosmos into which a person is born. It simply exists, to each person, as a factually unalterable casing in which he or she must live.” Almost exactly like the system of slavery Douglass was born into (18). To Weber, the spirit of modern capitalism is not something one can choose to ignore, and something everyone must live with. Douglass is quite literally bound to this system for the first twenty or so years of his life, but even after his emancipation he remains heavily involved in the system as an abolitionist and civil rights activist. As previously mentioned, wealth must not be seen as money alone. Frederick Douglass does not discuss his financial gains in his autobiography, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” instead discussing his “…glorious resurrection, from the tomb of slavery, to the heaven of freedom.” (Douglass 43). To Douglass, freedom was of pinnacle importance, he believes, “In coming to a fixed determination to run away, we did more than Patrick Henry, when he resolved upon liberty or death.” (51). After achieving his own freedom, Douglass took it as his duty to free all the slaves, and after they were freed he took it as his duty to ensure those former slaves would be able to live decent lives as free men and women. As previously mentioned, Weber saw the increasing of wealth as a personal duty. Knowing that freedom was wealth to Douglass it is safe to say he fulfilled his own personal duty in exemplary fashion. Douglass also meets Weber’s standard of constant striving in a number of ways, both in his work as an activist and in his work as a speaker where he remarked, “We may explain success mainly by one word and that word is WORK! WORK!! WORK!!! WORK!!!!” (Douglass, Self-Made Men Speech).
Max Weber’s observation of modern capitalism is not incorrect, but his specific definition of wealth leads him to an imperfect example for his theories. Weber states that every individual must have some sort of “vocational calling”. Weber says that this phrase “…implies a notion of duty that individuals ought to experience, and do, vis-à-vis the content of their ‘vocational’ activity.” (Weber 18). If this is true, Frederick Douglass is clearly the better example of following a calling. As previously mentioned, Benjamin Franklin made contributions to several unique fields, whereas Frederick Douglass devoted his entire life to the advancement of minorities in America. Both men fit the general definition of the spirit of capitalism – they are hard working men who accumulated wealth in their lifetimes and never stopped to enjoy what they had already achieved. The spirit of capitalism, however, is incredibly nuanced and is ultimately better defined by Frederick Douglass.
Frederick Douglass’ never ending quest for more freedom solidifies him as the perfect example of Weber’s “spirit of capitalism”. Douglass knew what was important to him, and what would make him a wealthier individual. Through every phase of his life, he exemplified everything Weber described in his book by continuing to fight for freedom at every level. Frederick Douglass embodies, in every sense of the term, the spirit of modern capitalism.
Sources Consulted
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Thrift Edition ed. N.p.: Dover Publications, 1995. Print.
Douglass, Frederick. "Self-Made Men." The Frederick Douglass Papers. Vol. 5. N.p.: Yale UP New Haven and London, 1992. 545-75. Print. Ser. One: Speeches, Debates, and Interviews.
Franklin, Benjamin. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Thrift Edition ed. N.p.: Dover Publications, 1996. Print.
Weber, Max. "Chapter II." Trans. Stephen Kalberg. The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. N.p.: Roxbury, 2002. 13-37. Print.