Werner Sombart
(1863 -1941)
Werner Sombart was born in
1863 in Prussia.
He was a representative of
the German historical school of economic
theory, also he was classic of German
sociology.
Sombart stand out among
German economists for his radical views
on social and political questions.
He proposed the division of
mentalities to the
The essence of the division
is approximately the same as that of
Walter Schubart, but it is regarded a
socio-economic angle.
Hayek related Sombart to the
Socialists, who came out of the Marxists
were the precursors of National Socialism.
In book "Traders and the
Jews" Sombart welcomes "the German
war," which, in his opinion, a reflection
of the conflict between the commercial
spirit of English civilization and culture
of the heroic Germany.
He preaches contempt for the
"huckster" of the English, which
has only the welfare of personal as
opposed to readiness to sacrifice themselves
of the Germans. The purpose of the
individual, according to Sombart, is the
sacrifice of self for higher values.
Sombart is also known for
his polemic with Max Weber on the
origin and development of capitalism in
the West.
For Sombart was important to
separate the two sources of capitalism,
which can be called:
Sombart insisting on the role
of Jews in the development of capitalism,
pointed to external factor.
However, He also understood the
inadequacy of this thesis, because capitalism,
in contrast to the Jewish ethnic group,
was more clearly localized, and had to
have its own unique Western roots. A
change in the status of women in
Western culture and the ensuing advantage
selfish luxury of altruism and become
intrinsic factor, which complemented the external
and eventually led to the development
of capitalism.
In the last years of his
life came down from the scientific scene.
Nazis came to power to prevent the
distribution of his books, and the students
were not allowed to attend his lectures.
Sombart died in 1941, at
the age of 78.
The main ideas of Sombart:
- He proposed the division of mentalities to the "natural" and "economic".
- The purpose of the individual is the sacrifice of self for higher values.
- Separation of the two sources of capitalism.
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