Meaning of values ​​(what they are, concept and definition)

What are Values:

Values ​​are those principles, virtues or qualities that characterize a person, an action or an object that are considered typically positive or of great importance by a social group.

Values ​​are those qualities that stand out in each individual and that, in turn, prompt them to act in one way or another because they are part of their beliefs, determine their behaviors and express their interests and feelings.

In this sense, values define people's thoughts and how they want to live and share their experiences with those around them.

However, there are also a series of values ​​that are shared by society and that establish the behaviors and attitudes of people in general, with the aim of achieving collective well-being.

Therefore, values ​​can be classified by their importance according to the priorities of each person or society.

Among the most important values, human values ​​stand out because they have greater recognition and repercussion in the different social groups. These values ​​are related to ethics, respect, tolerance, kindness, peace, solidarity, friendship, honesty, love, justice, freedom, honesty, among others.

For example, freedom is a human value that all of us possess to make our decisions and to express our feelings and opinions.

Now, when it comes to those values ​​that are applied to a group of people in which cultures and social characteristics are taken into account, then reference is made to social values ​​and cultural values.

Likewise, in more specific contexts, other important value groups are also determined, such as family values, religious values, among others.

On the other hand, axiology is the branch of philosophy that has as its object of study values ​​and value judgments.

Ethical values ​​and moral values

The terms ethical and moral deal with, among other topics, the concept of values. Although in many cases ethical values ​​and moral values ​​are spoken interchangeably, these terms do not have the same meaning.

Ethical values ​​are those guidelines of behavior that seek to regulate the conduct of people, have a universal character and are acquired during the individual development of each person.

For its part, moral values ​​are those transmitted by society, from generation to generation, which, in some cases, may be determined by religious doctrine. Furthermore, moral values ​​can be modified over time.

Value scale

There are a large number of values, both general and specific, whose order of importance varies in each individual or social group.

For example, in a group of friends there is a set of shared values ​​such as friendship and respect, however, each member has a different set of personal values.

Therefore, when a value scale is mentioned, this indicates that there is a hierarchical value system in which some values ​​are prioritized over others when there is a conflict.

Also, the values ​​that are considered most important are those that encompass a broader or more complex meaning, for example, the value of love contains the value of friendship.

Hence, these values ​​serve as a source of motivation and condition human decision-making and actions.

See also:

• Gratitude. Scale of values. Types of values. Cardinal virtues.