Human Values And Ethics

Human Values And Ethics

The term value is ambiguous because it has been used indiscriminately by Philosophers, Psychologists, Administrators, Political scientists, Economists, Sociologists, Anthropologists, Engineers, Medical Practitioners, Lawyers, and others; as a result, we must examine the word's etymological origin to comprehend its meaning in the context of ethics.
 
The word "Value" comes from the Latin word "Valere," which means "to be valuable." As a result, the term value etymologically refers to the worth of something. By way of economics, the term 'value' found its way into ethics. 
 
•    It is used in economics for
1.    Value in use, which refers to an object's ability to meet a human need or desire; 
 
2.    The amount of one commodity that can be obtained in exchange for another in terms of value in exchange.
 
•    In general, an object is said to have value if it aids in the fulfilment of a human need. Our core ideas or beliefs that guide our actions are referred to as values in ethics. 
 
•    Values are acquired through knowledge, awareness, experience, or the socialisation process. These ideas or beliefs are dear to us, and we decide what is right and what is wrong based on them.
 
•    As a result, values are things that are desirable and worthy of esteem in and of themselves. Values have an intrinsic worth in terms of the possessor's usefulness or importance.' 
 
•    Values are principles, standards, or characteristics that are thought to be worthwhile or desirable. Good values lead to good thoughts, which in turn lead to good behaviour.

WHAT ARE HUMAN VALUES?

•    Human values are virtues (i.e. desirable character traits) that guide us to consider the human element when interacting with other people. 
 
•    Human values are those that enable man to live in harmony with the rest of the world. Without values, human life would be devoid of meaning, devolving into a bland, and textureless existence devoid of distinction.
 
•    Human values are the deepest moral aspirations of humanity, and they are the foundation of our lives as individuals and societies.
 
•    Human values are universal because they are shared by all people regardless of religion, nationality, or cultural background. Human values encourage consideration for one another.
 

CLASSIFICATION OF HUMAN VALUES

1.    TERMINAL VALUES AND INSTRUMENTAL VALUES

 
•    The core permanent values that often become character traits are known as terminal values. They can be beneficial or harmful. 
 
•    It is extremely difficult to change them. Happiness, self-respect, family security, recognition, freedom, inner harmony, a comfortable life, professional excellence, and so on are examples of terminal values. In terms of existence, terminal values are desirable states of being.
 
•    Instrumental values are a part of social psychologist Milton Rokeach's values definition. Instrumental values, according to him, are specific modes of behaviour. They are not an end goal in themselves, but rather a means of achieving one.
 
•    In a nutshell, Terminal Values are a person's life objectives – the ultimate things he or she wants to achieve through his or her behaviour (the destination he or she wants to reach in life), whereas Instrumental Values are the methods he or she wants to use to achieve his or her life's goal (the path he would like to take to reach his destination).
 

2.    INTRINSIC VALUES AND EXTRINSIC VALUES

•    An intrinsic value is something valuable in and of itself. It's a goal in and of itself. 
 
•    Regardless of the consequences, intrinsic values are beneficial. Intrinsic value has long been thought to be at the heart of ethical behaviour. 
 
•    Intrinsic values include things like honesty, temperance, courage, happiness, and peace.
 
•    An extrinsic value is obtained through the acquisition of another intrinsic value. It is only useful in the sense that it serves as a means to an end.
 
•    The ‘means-values' or 'path-values' that help achieve the end values are things like health, money, fame, status, intelligence, and so on.
 

3.    INSTITUTIONAL VALUES AND INDIVIDUAL VALUES

•    Political, social, economic, and cultural institutions propagate institutional values. 
 
•    In a democratic society, for example, liberty becomes an institutional value. 
 
•    Similarly, in a social institution such as marriage, loyalty becomes a value. Individual values include both intrinsic and extrinsic values that are significant to the person who holds them.
•    Self-esteem and celebrity are examples of such values.
 

HOW ARE VALUES FORMED?

•    People's value systems include both terminal and instrumental values, which are developed and reinforced by both the culture in which they grow and the environment in which they live.
 
•    Individuals form values as a result of socialisation from their parents, religious institutions, friends, personal experiences, and society. 
 
•    Individual values are influenced by our religious beliefs, social systems in place, and, to some extent, socioeconomic conditions.
 
•    The terminal values develop over time, whereas the instrumental values are influenced by circumstances.
 

FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN VALUES

•    Basic inherent values in humans are truth, honesty, loyalty, love, and peace, among others, because they bring out the fundamental goodness of human beings and society as a whole. 
 
•    Furthermore, because these values are unifying in nature and cut across individuals' social, cultural, religious, and sectarian interests, they are regarded as universal, timeless, and eternal, and apply to all people.
 

ROLE OF FAMILY AND SOCIETY IN INCULCATING VALUE

•    The role of the family and society in the development of a child's moral values is critical. Parents and children have a close relationship, which influences the child's personality. Values are built on the foundation of the family.
 
•    Moral values such as honesty, happiness, peace, and justice are instilled in the thoughts, feelings, and actions of children, and they serve as ideals and standards that guide their actions in life. If young family members are systematically taught moral values, the value system practised in the family becomes automatic to them.
 
•    The family shapes a child's attitude toward people and society, assists in mental development, and supports the child's goals and values. 
 
•    The development of love, affection, tolerance, and generosity in the family will be aided by a happy atmosphere. A child learns to behave by imitating what he sees in his environment.
 
•    Family plays an important role in helping a child socialise and has a significant impact on the child's development. The presence of elders in the family, as well as the joint family system, plays an important role in the social and moral development of children. It will also assist the family's younger generations in imbibing human values and overcoming negative mental tendencies when they are with their elders.
 
•    Children identify with their parents and other family elders, adopting them as personal role models to emulate and imitate. Because they spend the majority of their adolescence with their parents, behavioural problems can only be corrected by family involvement in the child's life.
 
•    Family is the first social organisation from which a child can learn his behaviour because of its proximity. A child's emotional and physical foundation is defined by the social standards and customs defined by his or her family. 
 
•    The values that a family instils in its children form the foundation for how they learn, grow, and function in the world. These beliefs influence how a child grows up and develops into an individual in society. These values and morals guide an individual's actions at all times. Because of the values taught and given by his family members, children grow up to be good people. 
 
•    Family values are ideas passed down from generation to generation. The family's customs and traditions lead to a disciplined and organised way of life.
 
•    The values of the family enable the child to stand firm in his beliefs despite attempts by others to persuade him otherwise. A child who has a strong sense of right and wrong is less likely to fall prey to deviant influences.
 

METHODS OF PROMOTING VALUES IN FAMILY

1.    Promoting fundamental values such as tolerance, love, sympathy, nonviolence, sympathy, and companionship, as well as Dharma.

2.    Positive Attitude and Constructive Actions: Suppressing negative actions while enhancing positive ones.
 
3.    Family peace and harmony: To eliminate dominance, we must ensure family peace and harmony.
 
4.    Improving social life and equality through cleanliness, a good home environment, hygiene, and good health.
 
5.    Food is shared and eaten together.
 
6.    Gentleness, good manners, cooperation, and respect for women and elders.
 
7.    Offering prayers to one's god and respecting the beliefs of others.
 
8.    Participating in and enjoying family gatherings.
 
The larger society has an impact on character development, responsiveness, and resilience.
 
The income level, education level, culture, national ideology, mass media, and other factors all play a role in the development of an individual's value system. 
 
An ideal society promotes opportunity- 
 
a.    To each individual's physical, intellectual, and moral development. 
 
b.    To discover our potential. 
 
c.    To mould people's opinions, beliefs, morals, and ideals. 
 
d.    To instil values such as hard work, honesty, tolerance, national integration, secularisation, and responsibility. 
 
e.    To reject negative values such as dowry, Casteism, communalism, alcoholism, and drug use.
 
f.    To improve the quality of life by ignoring social tensions, unrest, prejudices, and other factors. 
 
g.    To ensure justice and equality for the nameless, faceless, and voiceless. 
 
h.    To cultivate individual and group discipline.
 

ROLE OF EDUCATION

•    Education has always been regarded as the most powerful weapon in every era and society. As a result, when assessing the role of educational institutions, the following factors should be considered. 
 
•    Values transmission should not infringe on the learner's freedom and autonomy. 
 
•    Education can transmit refined knowledge at a rapid rate. 
 
•    Educational institutions are primarily responsible for the development of personality, preservation of culture, promotion of social justice, scientific temper, democracy, and secularism, among other things.
 
•    Educational institutions assist in the perfect development of reasoning, the creation of checks and controls on impulses, the development of a focused approach to life, and the promotion of the value of human excellence.
 

FOR INCULCATING VALUES MANY EDUCATIONISTS HAVE SUGGESTED DIFFERENT IDEAS SUCH AS:

 
1.    Providing a curriculum that is based on values
 
2.    Creating a unique teacher orientation programme
 
3.    Foundation courses with a strong emphasis on value
 
4.    Values-based literature publication
 
5.    The requirement for teachers and students to develop a code of conduct
 
6.    Instilling a philosophical outlook on life in teachers and students.
 
•    To instil values in future generations, we will create a curriculum based on our accumulated cultural heritage.
 
•    Children are members of a small society at school that has a significant impact on their moral development. Teachers serve as role models for students in the classroom, and they play an important role in instilling ethical behaviour in them.
 
•    Cheating, lying, stealing, and consideration for others are all encouraged by peers at school.
 
•    Despite the existence of rules and regulations, educational institutions informally instil value education in children. They are crucial in the development of ethical behaviour in children.
 
•    Teachers play a critical role in the development of children's value systems.

ROLE OF A TEACHER:

a.    A teacher's personality and value system have an impact on students' minds and hearts.
 
b.    To instil civic awareness, patriotism, and discipline in students.
 
c.    The teacher is the central figure in higher education, in whom the university sees its past glory and builds its future dignity around him
 
d.    To instil a balanced viewpoint in students, a teacher must be constantly learning, researching, and criticising.
 
e.    Commitment to society, profession, excellence, and basic human values such as impartiality, objectivity, and intellectual integrity, among others.
 

LIST OF HUMAN VALUES AND SUB-VALUES

1)    Right-Conduct     
2)    Peace     
3)    Truth 
4)    Manners     
5)    Patience     
6)    Truthfulness 
7)    Awareness     
8)    Concentration     
9)    Honesty 
10)    Responsibility 
11)    Positive     
12)    Fairness 
13)    Independence     
14)    Self-acceptance     
15)    Trust 
16)    Perseverance     
17)    Self-discipline     
18)    Reflection 
19)    Courage     
20)    Contentment     
21)    Determination 
22)    Love     
23)    Non-violence 
24)    Kindness     
25)    Consideration 
26)    Forgiveness     
27)    Stewardship 
28)    Generosity     
29)    Justice 
30)    Compassion     
31)    Respect 
32)    Tolerance     
33)    Cooperation 
34)    Service     
35)    Harmlessness

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