In the PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE 'SPIRIT' OF CAPITALISM, Max Weber opposes the Marxist concept of dialectical materialism and relates the rise of capitalist economy to the Calvinist belief in the moral value of hard work and the fulfillment of one's worldly duties. Based on the original German 1905 edition, this volume included, along with Weber's treatise, an illuminating introduction, a wealth of explanatory notes, and exemplary responses and remarks- both from Weber and his critic- that were sparked by its publication.