Moreover, despite both sociologist acknowledging that capitalism has changed from its initial stages, alienating the workers from the products of their labor and the spiritual drive behind capitalism, Marx is the only one of the two who proposed an alternative to capitalism and that knew where society is headed next. Weber, on the other hand, only criticized capitalism and did not propose an alternative and was unsure of its future. Through Marx’s step by step explanation of the phases societies most go through, the next inevitable step a capitalist civilization will take is to turn to communism. He believed that the bourgeoisie ultimately produces its own gravediggers by alienating the proletarians through their labor. Ultimately, the proletarians
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He fixated his reasoning of capitalism on the preachings of charismatic leaders like Baxter. Yet, Weber himself recognized that charismatic leaders are irrational and, consequently, not connected to a rational pattern of historical development of men. Protestant preachers like Baxter, believed that everyone had a particular calling that God had given them in life. This means that what mobilized capitalism, according to Weber, was the belief that one must work in accordance to one’s calling (Weber 1978). This is in sharp contrast to Marx’s beliefs, because it does not focus on society’s calling as a whole, but rather on the individual’s calling. Considering that this is true, Weber founded his claims on charismatic leaders instead of looking at the particular phases of capitalism, like Marx did. This means that Weber took a more micro level approach in understanding modern capitalism, while Marx had a macro level emphasis in his interpretation, and this helped him see human history as as rational
He fixated his reasoning of capitalism on the preachings of charismatic leaders like Baxter. Yet, Weber himself recognized that charismatic leaders are irrational and, consequently, not connected to a rational pattern of historical development of men. Protestant preachers like Baxter, believed that everyone had a particular calling that God had given them in life. This means that what mobilized capitalism, according to Weber, was the belief that one must work in accordance to one’s calling (Weber 1978). This is in sharp contrast to Marx’s beliefs, because it does not focus on society’s calling as a whole, but rather on the individual’s calling. Considering that this is true, Weber founded his claims on charismatic leaders instead of looking at the particular phases of capitalism, like Marx did. This means that Weber took a more micro level approach in understanding modern capitalism, while Marx had a macro level emphasis in his interpretation, and this helped him see human history as as rational