Objectives:
Understand that values are formed from external and internal drives of an individual
Become familiar with the basic relationship of human values to psychological and philosophical endeavors
In the reading, there are a lot of times when the question “do values exist” or “how do we define values” comes up. Sometimes they are compared to instincts, and sometimes they are compared to cultural upbringing. On page 7, it says “but do values, in the sense of freely chosen values, truly exist? Are human beings instead driven by inherited instincts, instincts that we like to dress up with the term values, so that we can pretend there is a measure of choice in the process, when it is really all programmed into our genes?” This is an interesting point to think about. Are we born with certain instincts that we later call values, so that we can pretend to choose them or pretend that we are following some code of conduct? Maybe some values are like that, but I think that others are definitely learned later in life. For example, babies are not patient. They want everything right away, and often times they cry or throw a tantrum if they don’t get it. Adults on the other hand value patience a lot, and we even have the saying “patience is a virtue,” which is like saying patience is an important value to have.
I think that the reading was interesting, but that it didn’t cover everything there is to say. I think that some values are handed to us at birth, some are caused by our parents, friends, and culture, and some are learned later when they are needed, like when we get into a career. I also think humans are capable of rising above our instincts that we have as babies or children, and that we can think and analyze and decide what our values should be from that. Unlike other animals, we are conscious and we can reason, and that means we can create a whole new value system depending on our needs
Reflection:
Re-reading this post made me remember some of what I was trying to say about human nature and how values are formed. I still believe that some are given to us by parents and environments we grow up with, but some are instilled in us at birth. Life events have a tendency to either reinforce or diminish those values, but I don’t think they are ever completely forgotten. Our genetics play a big role in how we interpret, and subsequently value certain traits, actions and ideas.
I wrote that “babies are not patient… Adults on the other hand value patience a lot, and we even have the saying that ‘patience is a virtue.'” I was trying to illustrate the idea that values are learned as well as instinctive. As children, we don’t understand right and wrong, and we don’t understand why or how things in society work. Human values develop to allow us to live in harmony in a society, which has helped us survive and live happier lives. If everyone acted like a child, without any care for society’s rules and values, then everyone would steal, cheat, and more. Nobody would want to live near anyone else, and we would live lonely, unfulfilling lives. Human values is what knits us together and keeps us all happy.
Future Goals:
I already have an interest in human nature, and why we do or don’t do certain things. This is an interesting topic to me and I plan on learning more about it in the future. Learning about human values overall will also help me understand my own values, and where they come from.