Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Protestant ethics
(1,556 words)

1. Definition

The term Protestant ethics denotes the teachings regarding Christian conduct of life that emerged with the Reformation in the 16th century in contrast to medieval ethics (Moral theology). The topic has grown as a subject of special attention in historical discussion primarily since the early 20th century, because the characteristics of Protestant ethics, especially pronounced in Calvinism, were addresse…

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Köster, Roman, “Protestant ethics”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 10 June 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_026001>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107



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