Protestantism & Wisdom

Paper: https://www.academia.edu/44365945/Protestantism_and_Practical_Wisdom The provided text examines how the **Protestant Reformation** fundamentally altered the concept of **practical wisdom** by shifting the focus of morality from **natural law** to **subjective faith**. **Martin Luther** initiated this change by rejecting human reason and tradition as ethical foundations, instead viewing the **Bible** as the sole authority for an invisible, internal Church. Consequently, **Lutheranism** introduced a dualism where spiritual life was hidden within the individual while external social orders were left to the passive submission of the state. **John Calvin** further transformed this theology by emphasizing **material success** and **disciplined work** as visible evidence of divine election. This shift replaced the classical pursuit of human perfection with a **productive rationality** that prioritized external prosperity over interior growth. Ultimately, these theological developments influenced modern **business management** and politics by detaching professional ethics from spiritual contemplation and anchoring them in **economic efficiency**.