Final answer:
Max Weber believed that the values of thrift, modesty, moderation, frugality, and self-denial were central to the Protestant work ethic, which played a key role in the rise of capitalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Max Weber, thrift, modesty, moderation, frugality, and self-denial constitute the core components of the Protestant work ethic, a concept he explored in depth in his seminal work, The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism. Weber proposed that the Protestant ethic was influential in the development of capitalism, as it emphasized hard work, savings, and a responsible use of economic resources. This ethic, he argued, encouraged individuals to engage in labor not for immediate gratification but for long-term success, leading to the accumulation of wealth and the establishment of capitalist economies.
Weber suggested that the principles of the Protestant faith, particularly as expressed by Calvinist predestination, instilled in believers a drive to demonstrate their faith through hard work and economic success, without indulgently spending profits on fleeting pleasures. Over time, this mentality supported the rise of capitalism by promoting disciplined labor and rational investment, in contrast to the more community-oriented views of Catholicism that Weber saw as less conducive to the development of capitalism.