2000/03/01 by Timothy S. Lee · 31 citations
Computer Science · Social Sciences · #Educational Systems and Policies #Psychosocial Factors Impacting Youth #Diverse Topics in Contemporary Research #Protestantism #Politics #Conscience #Protestant work ethic #Ideal (ethics) #Aesthetics #Political economy #Action (physics) #Law #Political science #Sociology #Law and economics #Philosophy
paper · doi:10.2307/3170582
published in Church History 69(1), 116-142 (Cambridge University Press)
openalex publication_date 2000/03/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Everywhere the first impulse to social action is given as a rule by real interests, i.e., by political and economic interests. Ideal interests lend wings to these real interests, give them a spiritual meaning, and serve to justify them. Man does not live by bread alone. He wants to have a good conscience as he pursues his life-interests. And in pursuing them he develops his capacities to the highest extent only if he believes that in so doing he serves a higher rather than a purely egotistic purpose. Interests without such “spiritual wings” are lame; but on the other hand, ideas can win out in history only if and insofar as they are associated with real interest