探寻资本主义精神的犹太渊源——对桑巴特《犹太人与现代资本主义》的解读

The Jewish origin of the Spirit of Capitalism: A Review on W. Sombat's The Jews and Modern Capitalism

维尔纳·桑巴特的《犹太人与现代资本主义》一书第一次比较系统地探讨了现代资本主义崛起过程中的犹太因素。一方面,该书阐释了犹太人在现代经济体制形成中发挥的作用;另一方面,它考察了犹太宗教伦理与犹太生活方式中独特的社会心理与道德因素,并揭示了其与资本主义精神的关联性。桑巴特强调,犹太人是"资本主义精神"最明显的人格化体现,某些犹太宗教理念催生了资本主义精神,这些观点的提出也引发了其他学者的质疑。围绕"桑巴特命题"的争论推动了学术界进一步探索犹太人与资本主义关系这一历史谜题,深化了对犹太经济社会史以及资本主义起源与动力问题的探讨与思考。

In terms of The Jews and Modern Capitalism written by Werner Sombart,this book is the first monograph to systematically discuss the Jewish factors in the process of rising of modern capitalism.On one hand,it depicts the role played by Jews in the shaping of the modern economic structure.On the other hand,it observes the special social psychology and moral factors in Jewish religious ethics and life style,revealing the relationship between those factors and the spirit of capitalism.Sambart emphasizes that the most obvious personification of'the spirit of capitalism'is embodied by the Jews,and some Jewish religious ideologies created'the spirit of capitalism'.His above viewpoints called into questions of other academics.The disputes concerning'Sombart's proposition'motivate the academia to futher explore the historical puzzle of Jews and capitalism and deepen the discussion and thinking regarding the Jewish economic and social history,the origins and motivation of capitalism.