The reading defined values as, “it should be synonymous with personal evaluations and related beliefs, especially personal evaluations and related beliefs about the “good” the “just” personal evaluations and beliefs that propel us to action to a particular kind of behavior and life.” (p. 7) When doing the reading it questioned, “Do values, in sense of freely chosen values, truly exist? Are human beings instead driven by inherited instincts? I found this interesting because I agree with the reading when it quoted, “there is a good deal of evidence that human beings are not primarily driven by genetically determined instincts but are rather free to make their own choices.”(p. 7)
I agree with the reading that we are not driven by immutable instincts but are still controlled by the influence of genes on our underlying personality. I have related to the idea that individual human beings are programmed into their values with the influence of social pressures. Many people feel free to express their personal beliefs that connect with their choice and freedom. Another part that stood out to me in the reading was the key questions, starting with beliefs by asking ourselves how we come to believe anything. I feel that many people actually believe this belief because often times people believe anything they read or hear that comes from the media. People are quick to believe anything they hear, which is why I connect with the reading with the idea to make a list of such beliefs and then ask yourself, why do I believe this? I feel that this is something we should start doing more often and questioning why we believe this and what affect it has on us as an individual and are values. Overall, I feel that we need to recognize our values more often and follow the basic ways we come to know something that the article provides.
I believe that your thesis is that individuals are not driven by immutable instincts but that they are still controlled by the influence of genes on our underlying personality. I think that the purpose of this is that even though we may not know it or not, genes will always be the main influence of our actions in life.
The evidence you showed for this says “individual human beings are programmed into their values with the influence of social pressures.” Another reasoning that you could have brought up to support your argument would be that people don’t tend to question why certain people are influenced in ways that others are not. This shows that yes, people are definitely programmed into their values but each human being is programmed completely different than anyone else.
Overall, I think you presented your different points completely accurately. It shows that you understood the readings and that you were able to evaluate it with your own experiences.
I found that you had a lot of similar points of satisfaction and understanding from this reading as I did. You did a fantastic job of formulating an opinion. Which is that, humans are not driven by genetically determined instincts and used the quote by Lewis on page seven to back that up. While I agree with your point of you, I feel that an important part of the argument is examples. One that I found that really helped prove the point that values are not just genetically determined is the example of the monks. Lewis describes this example as, “Yet in medieval and even modern Japan, among other personal beliefs about correct behavior commonly lead to ritual suicide, and in Tibet before the Chinese invasion a substantial percentage of the population chose to live celibately in monasteries” (Lewis). To me this speaks a great deal for the argument that values are freely chosen. I feel this is the case because in early Japan before many social and sexual norms that we have today, people still elected to be celibate, freely electing not to have sex and making it a value. The monks of this time found their vow to refrain from sex to be, good, just and were able to find beauty in their chosen value. I am greatly in favor of your focus at the end of your blog, which has to do with why we value certain things. As Lewis describes it is a great idea to list out ones values and determine as to why one sees beauty, just and good in them. Overall a great response with awesome insight!
I am very glad you shared the quote from the Lewis article. I had never looked or thought about values in such a way. It didn’t cross my mind in which we choose values as determined to why one sees beauty. I feel that argument is a strong argument to make and a very supportive one. I agree with the idea that we are able to find beauty in our values, which is why I think we choose them so carefully. I think that it supports a lot about how and why we choose our values. I agree with the idea that values are freely chosen and I feel that with the way our society is today, having the opportunity to freely choose our values is very important. It reflects back to who we are as an individual and how we adapt to those values. Many cultures don’t have the opportunity to choose so freely as others, which creates their own character. There is no bad or good value to follow; I feel that how we handle those values and approach them is the most important. Thank you for the response and bringing another outlook to the article. It helped show another point of view that makes a huge part of the reading!