in the context of religions in china the term confucianism
The Religion of China: Confucianism and Taoism
The sociologist Andreas Buss wrote in 1985 that many Western scholars felt the so - called `` Weber - thesis '' belonged to a `` bygone era '' yet it continued to inspire discussion and reference . He cautioned that English language scholars would find it difficult to read Weber . One problem is that Weber did not intend the essays on China and India to be read separately or as definitive treatments . His purpose was to sketch selected elements in Indian or Chinese culture to contrast with and test his essay `` The Protestant Ethic and the Rise of Capitalism . '' The essay on Confucianism and Taoism was published in English under `` misleading '' title , The Religion of China , a title which does `` not at all reflect Weber 's intentions '' . In addition , Buss continued , the translations are of `` poor quality '' , even a `` disgrace '' , and add to the misunderstanding that Weber over-generalized .
The sociologist Andreas Buss wrote in 1985 that many Western scholars felt the so - called `` Weber - thesis '' belonged to a `` bygone era '' yet it continued to inspire discussion and reference . He cautioned that English language scholars would find it difficult to read Weber . One problem is that Weber did not intend the essays on China and India to be read separately or as definitive treatments . His purpose was to sketch selected elements in Indian or Chinese culture to contrast with and test his essay `` The Protestant Ethic and the Rise of Capitalism . '' The essay on Confucianism and Taoism was published in English under `` misleading '' title , The Religion of China , a title which does `` not at all reflect Weber 's intentions '' . In addition , Buss continued , the translations are of `` poor quality '' , even a `` disgrace '' , and add to the misunderstanding that Weber over-generalized .