Max Weber on Entrepreneurship: Exploring His Examples

Abstract

Although Max Weber (1864–1920) is often associated with topics other than entrepreneurship, in several accounts of entrepreneurship research, Weber is included among classic contributors (Aldrich, 2005; Botelho et al., 2024; Landström, 2005). The literature especially referred to his study “Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” (1904–1905), in which Weber explored the connection between this religious doctrine (religious values) and the rising entrepreneurial spirit. However, some literature also indicates that Weber discussed entrepreneurship in several publications and approached it in different ways (e.g., Swedberg, 2000; Landström, 2005). These entrepreneurship discussions were spread across publications, not a specific work. Few scholars have explicitly explored these issues relative to entrepreneurship. This paper follows up this gap and explores examples of Weber’s discussions of entrepreneurship and its relevance to contemporary research by asking the following: How did Weber understand and discuss entrepreneurship—and what was his relevance to contemporary entrepreneurship research? This theoretical exploration is based on approximately eight publications drawn from a larger corpus of publications that Weber wrote between 1889 and 1920. In addition, it draws on the contemporary literature on Weber. This paper identifies five examples in which Weber discusses entrepreneurship foremost using the term “entrepreneur.” These examples are discussed and grouped into three conceptualizations of entrepreneurship. Finally, the paper illustrates the relevance of these concepts. This discussion will interest those intrigued by classic contributions to the topic.