Examining the Transformation of "Ancient and Modern" from the Perspective of "Weber's Proposition": How the "Iron Cage" of Modernity Is Formed

Abstract

Weber attempted to find the crucial cultural impetus that supports and propels the capitalist mode of production in the Protestant Ethic, namely the spirit of capitalism. He interconnected religion, culture, and socio-economics through rationalism, simultaneously delving into a conceptual issue, the "transformation of ancient and modern," brought about by the development of rationalism. Building upon this, Weber uniquely examined how society and actions are irreversibly propelled by the force of these ideas to construct the "iron cage" of modernity. Therefore, placing "Weber's proposition" within the broader context of modern thought serves as a perspective to help us better understand and reflect on capitalism as a spirit of thought or ideology, as well as the crises hidden within the societal reality constructed upon it.