Title

John Cotton and the Work Ethic

Authors

Lois M. Eveleth

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in: Contemporary Philosophy Vol. XXIV, No. 3 & 4, May/June & July/August 2002

Abstract

The Protestant work ethic, as identified by Max Weber, has its first and, arguably, best American articulation in the work of the Reverend John Cotton (1584-1652). Revisiting key writings of this Boston minister-scholar, we see the origin of American valuation of wealth, work, and success.