There are hundreds of “values.” “Values” can be defined in a number of ways. I think it is handy to think of them as things you do or don’t value. I value some things more highly than other things, and in turn I am biased. So are you.
I suggest that when we dialogue, we ought to assume that the other person is a good person who has positive intentions. Our life experience, IQ, interests, education, schooling, and contemplations will not be 100% identical.
Some of the common values, biases, perceptions and worldviews that various people “value” are listed below. This list is designed to give you ideas to create YOUR own personal list of values. My list of values is NOT all-inclusive, I built the list to about 250 things, and then paired it back down to about 100.
- I suggest writing down five to ten values you are most passionate about and think are good values.
- Then write down five to ten values that you dislike most strongly.
List of Values
- Accountability
- Accuracy in verbiage
- Aggression is wrong
- Anarchy (no rulers) is an ideal way for humans to exist
- Archy (a ruling class) is good or at least necessary
- Autonomy is important to me
- Awareness, the sensory-based experience of one’s environment
- Humans are born free
- Humans are born with a debt to society
- Candor about worldviews, biases and preferences is good
- Centralized control of individuals is necessary to avoid a nasty, short and brutish life
- Charity should be expected of good people
- Cleanliness is part of good character
- A Communities’ interests should be above individuals
- Compassion is part of good character
- A compassionate person is not objectively better, but I choose to be one
- Competence and productivity are part of good character
- Consciousness, the awareness of one’s awareness
- Contribution to those in one’s region should be required
- Conviction in one’s faith is good
- Creativity is wonderful
- Curiosity is good
- Dignity can only be earned, it is not a right
- Discipline from authority is necessary and good
- Diversity is not only OK, it should be forced by the majority
- Effectiveness in achieving a goal is more important than moral means “The ends justify the means”
- Equality of opportunity is a goal worthy of force
- Equality of outcome is a goal worthy of force
- Ethics should be extended from groups to individuals and enforced by the group
- Fairness to individuals is less important than fairness to groups
- Feelings are as important as reason
- Free markets are bad and must be controlled
- Generosity is morally superior to selfishness
- Goodness is not defined by individuals, but by the holy word of God
- Personal happiness is a good and moral thing to morally pursue
- Hard work should not be required for a person to receive basic human needs
- Harmony makes compromise worthwhile
- Hate isn’t great, but I will allow others that choice so long as they don’t initiate violence
- Health care is a basic human right (positive right)
- Heredity of the political system of our parents and their parents is legitimate
- Honor should be given to parents and those in authority even when we disagree
- Humor is an important thing to me
- Idealism, the dreaming of things that have never been, is stupid and not worthwhile
- Idealism and invention are how new things and ideas are brought to the world
- If one takes care of the means, then end will take care of itself
- Individualism is selfish (wanting a bunch of something for oneself) and therefore bad
- Inheritance taxes should be higher because that would help equalize access to stuff
- Initiation of force is always bad, Non-Aggression-Principle (NAP) is good, important and absolute without exception
- Intellectual consistency is important
- Intelligence and ability vary between people and it is each person’s right to profit as they choose and make happen
- Irreverence to tradition is bad
- Justice should be a function of the group, and individuals must abide by the group’s worldview
- Kindness is important and should be required of others, by coercion if needed
- Law-abiding citizens are better than law-breakers
- Learning should be ongoing, perhaps I will learn I am wrong about some things
- Liberty is important
- Logic is the only acceptable system of communication to use in debate
- Loving others, even the unlovable, is good
- Loyalty to one’s nation is good
- Loyalty to one’s dogma is bad
- Loyalty is not important, rather fairness is good.
- Minimalism is worthy of force
- Monogamous heterosexuality is the only moral way
- Morality is subjective
- Morality is set in stone by something/Someone
- Nationalism and patriotism are good
- If there is a chance of getting a virus that has a .9% chance of causing death, all other values should be flushed down the toilet.
- Negative rights are the only legitimate human rights, if rights even exist
- Oligarchy, monarchy and democracy are all OK if it is the national tradition
- Order is needed in society and can only be achieved through politics
- Peace is a high and worthy goal
- Performance and outcome should determine reward, not how hard a person tried
- Popular sovereignty, that government is created by and subject to the will of the people is a good concept
- Positive rights, those that require action on another’s part, are bad
- Productivity is a good measure of a person
- Private property rights are of absolute importance in society.
- Public need trumps private desire
- Realism trumps idealism
- Reason is the best way to think
- Reciprocity is better than charity
- Reparations, affirmative action, preference points based on gender or color are necessary to right the balance
- Respect is due those that enforce the will of rulers (soldiers, police, legislators, judges)
- We are responsible for ourselves, nobody else has a duty to do anything for us
- Rule of law is what makes society safe and prosperous
- Security and safety sometimes requires the public to take away freedom and privacy from individuals
- Self-reliance is a good and high goal
- Altruistic selflessness, putting others above oneself is better than egoism
- Sexual stuff should be each individual’s choice, and not controlled by force by society
- Sharing with the public the fruits of one’s talent, abilities & labor with society should be expected
- Spirituality is part of being a human being
- Spontaneous order works better than central control
- Stewardship of “the commons” is a responsibility and worthy of force against individuals
- Sustainability Doctrine is good, the earth is in huge danger and we must force everyone else into action or inaction
- Teamwork is morally superior to individual effort and work
- Theism is by definition a form of superstition, and is not deserving of respect
- Tolerance of things we dislike is good and all should be forced to tolerate even thinks they are biased against
- Tolerance of things that are against our values is not to be expected in our domain
- Trustworthiness is a high goal
- Truth, even when unpopular, is worthy of our pursuit and love
- Virtue is good
- Wealth in money, land, friendships or other capital, when voluntarily acquired, is the sole property of the owner, and is neither a moral good or bad
- Wisdom is good and ought to be pursued
What from this list of values is most and least important to YOU?
Values Act Like Lenses, and when most of us speak, we describe what we think based on our perceptions. This is natural and fine, awareness that our worldview if effected is the important thing. We ought to recognize that values act like lenses.
Let’s consider this passage:
- It appears that “Virtue” would be high on Cicero’s list of “good” virtues.
- Perhaps Timmy more highly values “following rules.”
When Timmy and Cicero are presented with a moral question in which a government makes a rule that both Timmy and Cicero agree is not a virtuous rule, each of them will examine the question though different lenses/values.
- Cicero might say, “I don’t like the rule, and will ignore it and choose virtue instead.”
- Timmy might say, “I don’t like the rule, however rules must be followed, so I will follow it.”
Each man has, with the best of intentions, made a decision of action based on their values. One is biased toward being virtuous while one is biased toward following rules. Both men seek to do good as they understand it. I urge you to consider my list of values and come up with your own.
*List was featured on the Let’s Think! radio show.