human values and theories

8/3/2019 Human Values and Theories

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Human Values andHuman Values and

TheoriesTheories


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Human valuesHuman values

Ideas, actions, habits orIdeas, actions, habits orexperiences that contribute toexperiences that contribute to

the promotion of human life.the promotion of human life.Man is a person because heMan is a person because he

has intellect and freewill.has intellect and freewill.Self is the first and mostSelf is the first and most

fundamental of the valuesfundamental of the values


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Kinds of ValuesKinds of Values

1.1. Biological ValuesBiological Values necessary to the physicalnecessary to the physical

survival of man as ansurvival of man as anorganism.organism.

Life and HealthLife and Health

Food and shelterFood and shelter

workwork


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2. Social Values2. Social Values

necessary to the sensual needsnecessary to the sensual needs

and fulfillment.and fulfillment.

Leissure and sexLeissure and sexMarriageMarriage

Family and homeFamily and home

Parental authorityParental authority

EducationEducation


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3. Rational Values3. Rational Values

necessary to the functions andnecessary to the functions and

fulfillment of intellect and will.fulfillment of intellect and will.

Understanding and control ofUnderstanding and control of

naturenature

Guide and control to oneselfGuide and control to oneselfSolidarity with fellowmenSolidarity with fellowmen

ReligionReligion


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Moral ValuesMoral Values It directly pertain to the function ofIt directly pertain to the function of

intellect and will.intellect and will.

Choices, decisions and actionsChoices, decisions and actions

Other values, when they fall within theOther values, when they fall within theexercise of mans freedom of choiceexercise of mans freedom of choiceassume the quality of moral.assume the quality of moral.

All values are moral in reference to theirAll values are moral in reference to theiruse or abuse by man as a free agent.use or abuse by man as a free agent.


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Characteristics ofCharacteristics of

Moral ValuesMoral Values1.1. Moral Values are goods having intrinsicMoral Values are goods having intrinsic

qualities of desirability.qualities of desirability.

2.2. Moral Values are universal. TheyMoral Values are universal. Theyappeal to man as man and to man as aappeal to man as man and to man as aspecific individual.specific individual.

3.3. Moral values are obligatory. They comeMoral values are obligatory. They comeas a natural duty, because possessionas a natural duty, because possessionof them is expected as an integralof them is expected as an integralquality to man as rational creature.quality to man as rational creature.


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Other ValuesOther Values1.1. Religious ValuesReligious Values

They pertain to mans relationshipThey pertain to mans relationshipwith thewith the DietyDiety, guiding and, guiding and

regulating his communion with Him.regulating his communion with Him.


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2. Cultural Values2. Cultural Values

These are man shares with othersThese are man shares with others

in a given community of persons,in a given community of persons,

shaping their spiritual kinship, andshaping their spiritual kinship, anddirecting their attention to definitedirecting their attention to definite

ideals of behavior.ideals of behavior.


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Other ValuesOther Values

3. Social Values3. Social Values

Are those that are necessary forAre those that are necessary forthe promotion of human societythe promotion of human society

as a whole, integrating theas a whole, integrating the

motivation and interests ofmotivation and interests of

members towards the commonmembers towards the common

objective.objective.


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Hierarchy of ValuesHierarchy of Values

Values does not have the sameValues does not have the same

degree of desirability.degree of desirability.

Neither is it possible to incorporateNeither is it possible to incorporate

all values at the same time.all values at the same time.

Goods pertaining to the intellect andGoods pertaining to the intellect and

will, occupies the highest level ofwill, occupies the highest level of

importance.importance. Biological values occupy the lowestBiological values occupy the lowest

rank.rank.


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Hierarchy of ValuesHierarchy of Values

Subjectivity plays an importantSubjectivity plays an important

influence in the choice of values.influence in the choice of values.

Time and place may also dictateTime and place may also dictateour choice.our choice.


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Choosing our valuesChoosing our values

Choose values according to theirChoose values according to their

intrinsic worth.intrinsic worth.

1.1. Permanent or lasting values mustPermanent or lasting values must

be preferred over temporary orbe preferred over temporary orperishable values.perishable values.

2.2. Values favored by a greaterValues favored by a greater

number of people must benumber of people must bepreferred over those that appealpreferred over those that appeal

only to a few.only to a few.


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Choosing our valuesChoosing our values

3. Values that are essential must be3. Values that are essential must be

preferred over those that arepreferred over those that are

accidental.accidental.

4. Values that give greater satisfaction4. Values that give greater satisfactionmust be preferred over those thatmust be preferred over those that

provide shortprovide short--lived pleasures.lived pleasures.

Our value preferences determine ourOur value preferences determine our

lifelife--style and our character.style and our character.


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God as the highest valueGod as the highest value

Ultimate and absolute good thatUltimate and absolute good that

will fulfill all human desires.will fulfill all human desires.

St. Augustine says, that ourSt. Augustine says, that ourhearts are restless until we findhearts are restless until we find

God.God.


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Ethical TheoriesEthical Theories

PlatoPlato

Believed that man is freeBelieved that man is free

Man deserves to be punished forMan deserves to be punished forthe sins he freely commits.the sins he freely commits.

Happiness is not found in theHappiness is not found in the

things that merely serve mansthings that merely serve mans

use, nor in the pleasure of earthlyuse, nor in the pleasure of earthlylife. But by the exercise of virtues.life. But by the exercise of virtues.


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AristotleAristotle

Man has threefold nature: vegetal,Man has threefold nature: vegetal,animal and rational.animal and rational.

Man must realize his nature byMan must realize his nature bycultivating all his naturalcultivating all his naturaltendencies.tendencies.

He needs to fulfill his basicHe needs to fulfill his basic

biological and sensual needs,biological and sensual needs,guided by temperance.guided by temperance.

Happiness is attained in theHappiness is attained in thepractice of virtues.practice of virtues.


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St. Thomas AquinasSt. Thomas Aquinas

The highest good consist inThe highest good consist in

beatific vision of God.beatific vision of God.

No earthly good can fully satisfyNo earthly good can fully satisfy

human desires.human desires.

Happiness is possible only withHappiness is possible only with

Gods help through the infusion ofGods help through the infusion ofsupernatural grace.supernatural grace.


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Ethical systemEthical system

IslamismIslamism

Islam is a philosophy of life, aIslam is a philosophy of life, a

complete system of living, basedcomplete system of living, based

on the word of God revealed toon the word of God revealed to

Mohammed.Mohammed.

It teaches that the Greatest ValueIt teaches that the Greatest Value

is ones surrender to God.is ones surrender to God.


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Five Pillars of IslamFive Pillars of Islam

There is no God but Allah, andThere is no God but Allah, and

Mohammed is his prophet.Mohammed is his prophet.

Prayer brings man in the rightPrayer brings man in the right

relationship with Allahrelationship with Allah

CharityCharity

Observance of the RamadanObservance of the Ramadan Pilgrimage to MeccaPilgrimage to Mecca


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BuddhismBuddhism

The Greatest value according toThe Greatest value according to

Buddha is the liberation of manBuddha is the liberation of man

from sufferings throughfrom sufferings through

abandonment of all egoisticabandonment of all egoistic

desires.desires.


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Four noble Truths:Four noble Truths:

1.1. Life is the root of all sufferingsLife is the root of all sufferings

2.2. Sufferings are caused by desiresSufferings are caused by desires

3.3. Desires can be eliminated byDesires can be eliminated bynegating lifenegating life

4.4. Elimination of desires can beElimination of desires can beachieved by accumulating karmaachieved by accumulating karmaor deeds that eventually free theor deeds that eventually free theindividualindividual


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UtilitarianismUtilitarianism

The greatest value is pleasureThe greatest value is pleasure

Man being a sociable animal,Man being a sociable animal,must conduct his affairs in a waymust conduct his affairs in a way

that would benefit others.that would benefit others.

The greatest good:The greatest good: by happiness by happiness

is intended pleasure and theis intended pleasure and theabsence of pain; by unhappiness,absence of pain; by unhappiness,

pain and the privation of pleasurepain and the privation of pleasure


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CommunismCommunism Based on the teachings ofKarlBased on the teachings ofKarl

Marx that the greatest good isMarx that the greatest good isabsolute equalityabsolute equality

The mission is the production ofThe mission is the production ofmaterial wealth by means ofmaterial wealth by means ofcollective labor, so that the goodcollective labor, so that the goodwill be enjoyed according to hiswill be enjoyed according to his

powers and receive according topowers and receive according tohis needs.his needs.

It aims a classless society. AndIt aims a classless society. Andthis could be attained when thethis could be attained when the

state rule absolutely.state rule absolutely.


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ChristianismChristianism

Based on the teachings of ChristBased on the teachings of Christ

that the greatest value is lovethat the greatest value is love

Christian Morality is essentiallyChristian Morality is essentially

based on love which embracesbased on love which embraces

even the enemy.even the enemy.

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