Summary
Highlights
Values are subjective, meaning their existence and validity depend on an individual's feelings or attitudes. This implies that the morality or goodness of a value is perceived differently by each person, influenced by their beliefs and culture. An example is the cultural practice of chewing betel nut, which can be viewed as acceptable in one culture and immoral in another.
Values are objective when their existence and nature are independent of human evaluation. These values are inherently good or bad, without needing a person's perception to determine their morality. Examples include the intrinsic goodness of loving one's family and the inherent badness of committing murder.
Values are relative in the sense that while the value itself is perfect, individuals introduce imperfection or limitation through their interpretations. This is tied to subjectivism, where different individuals interpret a value like 'blood is life' based on their beliefs or affiliations, leading to varied understandings and practices.
Values are bipolar, meaning they do not exist alone but always with a counter-value, such as good and bad, justice and injustice, health and sickness, or beauty and ugliness. Interestingly, these positive and negative values are independent of each other; the existence of one does not necessitate the absence of the other. Peace is peace, and war is war, regardless of the other's presence.
Values are hierarchical, implying that they can be ranked based on their importance or priority, rather than merely classified. This ranking determines which values are considered highest or lowest. The primary factor in ranking values is their morality, distinguishing between good values (e.g., honesty, love, justice) and bad values (e.g., unjust deeds, murder). The ranking is ultimately dependent on the individual's perspective.
Intrinsic values are considered values in themselves, holding inherent worth without needing to serve any other purpose. Any value that is valued for its own sake falls into this category.
Instrumental values are desired for the good actions they enable or express. As values are abstract, instrumental values represent the observable behaviors that manifest an individual's underlying values. They are the means by which values are expressed.
Accidental values are subject to variability, temporality, and impermanence. They exist only for a specific time and are not permanent, such as the value of rest, which fluctuates based on individual needs and circumstances.
Natural values are permanent in nature, essential for human existence, such as the value of eating or self-preservation. Primary values are closely related, focusing more specifically on human development, including basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.
Secondary values are obligatory in nature, meaning they are values that individuals are compelled to follow, often by authority figures or cultural norms. Examples include wearing uniforms at school or respecting elders as mandated by family culture.
Religious values are those that enable individuals to connect with the absolute God, aiming for absolute good. These are often derived from spiritual texts and doctrines, such as the Ten Commandments or the Five Pillars of Islam, guiding behavior like 'do not steal' or 'do not kill'.
Cultural values are based on the diverse aspects of culture, including poetry, painting, architecture, music, and literature. An example is the 'Kanyao' practice in Cordillera, which is a spiritual ritual rooted in local culture.
Social values are those understood as essential for maintaining peace, order, and stability within society. They include concepts like patriotism, economic productivity, and liberty, all contributing to harmonious relationships between societal sectors.
Moral values pertain to actions viewed from the standpoint of conduct and ethics, determining if acts are morally good or evil. They suggest that a good action originates from a good value. Moral values also highlight the freedom to choose, making individuals responsible for the consequences of their chosen values and actions. They are characterized as basic, permanent, universal, absolute, objective, and freely chosen.