Norms and Principles of Law

Razina Ahmed

Abstract

Norms and principles have been viewed as endogenous up to this point in the discussion: they are the essential defining aspects of any given regime. Yet, there are standards and principles that govern the regime ina certain issue-area but are not directly connected to that issue-area might also be seen as causes for regime formation, persistence, and disintegration. Max Weber's Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is the most renowned example of such a statement. Weber contends that the growth of capitalism is inextricably linked to the formation of a Calvinist theological philosophy that encourages hard effort while condemning frivolity and views worldly achievement as an evidence of predetermined destiny. Capitalist institutions, according to Fred Hirsch, would collapse without precapitalist qualities like hard effort, self-sacrifice, loyalty, and honour. Such ideals serve as important restraints on self-interested calculations, which all too frequently lead to untrustworthy and dishonest conduct.