Schumpeter's Theological Roots? Harnack and the Origins of Creative Destruction
Science and Technology Policy Research, Working Paper series No. 2013-15
11 Pages Posted: 23 Feb 2016
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Schumpeter's Theological Roots? Harnack and the Origins of Creative Destruction
Schumpeter's Theological Roots? Harnack and the Origins of Creative Destruction
Date Written: December 01, 2013
Abstract
This short research note highlights the similarity between Schumpeter’s theory of creative destruction and the work of his contemporary, the German theologian Adolf von Harnack (1851-1930). The note provides a brief over-view of Harnack’s concepts and terminology and highlights their similarity to Schumpeterian ideas about routinisation, charismatic entrepreneurial leadership, and creative destruction. While the evidence is far from conclusive it does suggests that the similarity merits closer attention that could potentially lead to changes to the received understanding of the theory of creative destruction. In particular, it suggests a need to potential reassess the position of Schumpeter within a wider Weberian tradition.
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