The Essence of Values

The Essence of Values

Etymologially, the word values comes from the Latin word "valere" which means to measure the worth of something. Values are the elements of life prevailing in any society. they lie at the core of man's life. they color his choice. They shape and determine an individual's or group's decision to like or dislike, favor or disfavor, change or not to change. Thus, knowledge of people's values, including their orientation and preferences, will guide planners, policy-makers, and change agents in planning and implementation of responsive development programs. Equipped with such knowhow, they can evoke maximum affirmative public response.

Max Scheler (1874-1982) is the foremost exponent of axiology. Axiology is defined as the philosophical science of values. Says Scheler, "Acts reveal the persons value perferences. Like a prism that reflects the invisible spectrum of colors, a person's acts manifest is invisible order of values.

But even if the person's order of values is revealed only in and through participating with his acts, the order of values revealed by this participation must be distinguished from the acts themselves. For Scheler, the order of values is objective and independent. But the peculiar ways wherein the values are manifested by acts are relative to and dependent on historical circumstances.

We also say that value is anything that appeals to us in any way. They are the priori intentional objects of feelings. The following are true of values:

1. There are positive and negative of values.

2. Values create an atmosphere, hence we say a sense of values.

3. Values are of diverse types.

4. Values transcend facts.

5. Values clamor for existence or realization.

6. Man experiences a certain order of values.

Phenomenology of Moral Values

1. A description of moral insights into a moral experience shows the following:

* There is awareness of the difference between right and wrong.

*Moral experience cannot be reduced...