According to Max Weber, the Protestant ethic emphasizes a lifestyle in which what is suppressed?

The Protestant ethic, as articulated by Max Weber, emphasizes a lifestyle that prioritizes discipline, hard work, and rationality, which often leads to the suppression of emotions and feelings. In Weber's analysis, the Protestant ethic, particularly in its Calvinist form, promotes a focus on individual responsibility and a strong work ethic, suggesting that personal success is a sign of divine favor. This rational approach tends to de-emphasize emotional expression and personal feelings, advocating for a life guided by duty and moderation rather than impulsive desires or emotional satisfaction.

Weber points out that this suppression is essential for achieving economic success and social advancement, reflecting the values of capitalism that emerged from Protestantism. The lifestyle encouraged by the Protestant ethic discourages emotional indulgence in favor of a more calculated and rational approach to life, leading individuals to align their actions with their work and responsibilities.

While social relationships, traditions and rituals, and rational thought have roles within the Protestant ethic framework, it is the aspect of emotions and feelings that is most directly suppressed to align with the discipline and order necessary for the economic and spiritual aspirations defined by the ethic.