Chapter 10 Values And Virtues 103819

CHAPTER 10. VALUES AND VIRTUES

1. Definition of Values In his book, Ethics: The Philosophical Discipline of Action (1999), Professor E. Babor comes up with the following definition of values: 1. Values are the objects of human desire and striving. They are also the subjective assessment of a particular object insofar as it is good. 2. Values are our beliefs, those beliefs which we hold to be true and therefore values affect our thoughts, decisions and actions. 3. Values also refer to things, persons, ideas, or goals which are important to life.

2. Classification of Values In general, values are classified into the following: 1. Intrinsic and Instrumental Values. Intrinsic values are those which are considered as values in themselves. Instrumental values on the other hand, are those considered as good because of their worth to us and to others. 2. Accidental and Natural Values. Accidental values are subject to variability, temporality and impermanence while natural values are those that are permanent in human nature. 3. Primary and Secondary Values. The former refers to values that are chosen, acted upon and are necessary for human development while the latter refers to those values that are obligatory in nature. 4. Religious Values. These values enable us to encounter God whom we believe to be the absolute good. 5. Cultural Values. These values embrace poetry, painting, music, architecture and literature. 6. Social Values. Some examples of social values are patriotism, freedom of the press, fraternity, economic productivity and politics. 7. Moral Values. Refer to those qualities of an act performed by man freely and knowingly. These are characterized as basic values, permanent, universal, absolute, objective and freely chosen by us.