In the Internationale Wochenschrift (vol. 3, 1909, nos. 39–43) Professor Rachfahl published a critique of my essays on the Protestant ethic and the ‘spirit’ of capitalism (see my article in Christliche Welt, 1906, and earlier Replies to Karl Fischer, Archiv, XXV and XXVI). As this critique is also directed (secondarily) at my friend Ernst Troeltsch, he will reply in the same publication. Although it would have been most natural and useful for me to reply there too, I unfortunately felt (and still feel) unable to do so, despite my regard for its editor, whose leadership of the Deutsche Literaturzeitung I also respect. Founded by F. Althoff, the Internationale Wochenschrift has certain editorial practices to which I do not feel inclined to adapt myself. I could of course have ignored these practices as my concern here is merely with polemic. However, the editors have preferred to approach solely my colleague Troeltsch, despite the article's being almost entirely directed at me. I would of course have ignored this impoliteness, if it were not for the fact that my critic treats both of us as one, in order to make each of us responsible for the other, allowing him to make actual or supposed errors on the part of one of us apply to the other. And nor has he refrained from playing us off against each other so as to make this ‘Weber–Troeltsch collective’ appear in contradiction with itself. In view of this not very honourable practice, I have decided to go my own way and expressly deny all responsibility for anything not said by me, as Troeltsch would undoubtedly do too.

I might also be permitted to add the following. Anyone who has genuinely read both our essays will know that Troeltsch does not need my results at all for his purposes and positions – except for the concept of the sects, which Rachfahl does not even mention (see Archiv, XXI:63f./PE:144f., and my article in Christliche Welt). His findings could be right even if mine were wrong, and vice versa. He explores the historical development of the social teachings of the Christian churches, whereas I have so far only tried to clarify a particular phenomenon of conduct of life in its (original) religious conditioning.