Values
Nature, meaning & purpose of Values. Dr. Jay A. Garcia
The
Meaning, Nature and Purpose of Values Values refer to t he major priorities that man chooses to act on, and that creatively enhances his life and the lives of those with whom he associates with.
The
Essence of Values
Etymologically, the word values comes from the Latin word valere which means to measure the worth of something. Axiology is defined as t he philosophical science of values. Max Scheler is the foremost exponent of axiology.
According to Scheler: ³Acts reveal the person¶s value preferences. Like a prism t hat reflects the invisible spectrum of colors, a person¶s acts manifest his invisible order of values.´
The
Meaning, Nature and Purpose of Values Values is being itself or t he richness of being in as muc h as it has power to attract the cognitive and appetitive potentials of men. Values refer to t he major priorities that one chooses to act on. ± Brian Hall
The
Meaning, Nature and Purpose of Values Values means whatever is actually liked, prized, esteemed, desired, approved, and enjoyed by anyone at anytime. - Brightman
Phenomenology of Moral Values 1. A description of moral insights into a moral experience s hows the following: There
is awareness of t he difference between right or wrong. Moral experience cannot be reduced to other human experiences.
There
is a ³must´ quality, i.e., it is expected & demanded t hat anyone be moral. We experience an ³oug ht´ in doing good & avoiding evil. Yet we are free to do good or evil.
2. From phenomenon of dialogue, when we speak of & judge others.
Characteristics 1.
2.
3.
of Moral Values.
A value becomes moral because it is recognized as reasonable & & freely freely chosen by a human person. Moral values are pro are pro--eminent eminent over over the other human values. Moral values are absolute: absolute: i.e., independent of other values & preferred for their own sake.
Characteristics 4.
of Moral Values.
Moral values are universal & universal & necessary for necessary for everyone; i.e., friendship remains a value to all even if the friend is a rascal. 5. Moral values are obligatory ; i.e., they ought to ought to be realized & cannot be postponed.
Characteristics
of Values
Max Scheler, in his theory of of values, gives 4 characteristics or properties of of values. values. They are pure valuable essences or 1. qualities.. qualities They are objective & transcend the 2. sentimental perceptions to which they appeal.. appeal
Characteristics
of Values
3. They are hierarchically given, dependent & relative among themselves & with the perceiver. 4. They are always given in pairs, i.e. the positive value has always its corresponding countervalue.
Tomas
Andres, outlines other properties of Values.
is relative. Any value or good may be viewed as: a) good for what? or b) good for whom? subjective. If all values or V alue is subjective. good are relative, then, in any relation, there are 3 things to consider: V alue
1.
2.
That which is related to some other thing. Taken from the Latin word a quo meaning ³from which´. That to which the former is related or referred. Taken from the Latin word ad quem meaning ³to which´.
3. The basis of relationship between the two terms, i.e., the reason why the term a quo is related to the term ad quem.
Tomas Andres, outlines other properties of Values. Value is objective. Value has an absolute character since it has an objectivity independent from human appreciation or judgement. Value is bipolar. In its deepest structure, value never goes alone but is accompanied by a countervalue.
Tomas Andres, outlines other properties of Values. Value is hierarchical. Within the realm of value & among the different classes & groups there exists a hierarchy, a scaled gradation of values.
Classification
of Values
According to ancient philosophers, there are three fundamental classification of values:
Useful or utilitarian good. A thing is useful when some other things are obtained from & through it. Pleasurable or delectable good. A thing is pleasurable when it provides pleasure to the subject.
Befitting or becoming good. A thing is befitting when it develops, completes, or perfects the subject.
Other
authorities classify values as either intrinsic or instrumental. Intrinsic ² for its own sake. Instrumental ² for the sake of some other good.
