Weber's Response to Marx's Historical Materialism

To add to the discussion of Marx and Weber, I would like to point out that Weber's position posits a serious criticism of Marx's historical materialism. On Marx's view, the sole driving force of the progression of history are the material modes of production, not ideologies, religion, or any other non-economic aspects of society. These are mere epiphenomena, which are determined by the base structure of society, that is, the combination of the forces of production and relations of production.

First, by presenting some patterns of behavior encouraged and discouraged by Catholicism that inhibited the rise of Capitalism, Weber shows that these epiphenomena exercise a significant degree of influence over the development of economic structures. A very effective example was the laborer facing higher wages deciding to work less hours for the usual income, rather than capitalizing on the opportunity to raise his income. A given set of economic circumstances seem to have failed in revolutionizing the values/beliefs of this individual.

Moreover, by showing Prostetantism as conducive to the "spirit of capitalism," Weber presents difficulties for Marx's view that ideas do not determine the base structure. The example of certain set of behavioralisms of Protestantism not only facilitating the rise of capitalism but also exercising a causal influence on the development of the base structure weakens Marx's conception of historical materialism as a comprehensive explanation for all movements in history. While Weber's observations certainly do not completely disqualify Marx's view, it questions the universal applicability of Marx's historical materialism.