The Protestant work ethic was viewed in terms of its relationship to:

evolution and natural selection

capitalism

determinism

prejudice and discrimination

Capitalism.

Explanation:

The Protestant work ethic, as it is based on responsibility, frugality, discipline, and continuous, devoted hard work is founded on, mostly, Calvinist ideals of worldly endeavors as signs of grace and predestination (hard work seen as a strong manifestation of one's probable predestined salvation). The explicit link between the protestant work ethic and its flourishing under the forms of labor dictated by capitalism was first made by Max Weber at the turn of the 20th century.