Understanding Values and Axiology
Understanding Values and Axiology
Now that you have examined the social dimension of the human being, recognizing the importance of
act reflexively based on otherness and respect, you will work around the values that
they contribute to making your actions positive, for yourself and for others.
Imagine that you are going to appear on television during prime time announcing the rules.
of life that all Mexicans should follow. What would you say? Would you assume that the criteria with which
What governs your life should be shared by others? Without a doubt, Mexico would be a country with a
deep potential for development if those who are part of it acted empathically,
recognizing the value of diversity, respect, and cooperation.
However, to what extent can you say that your behaviors follow these rules?
What values will you contribute to a more humane future?
What is a value? The term value can have many meanings, one of which implies that it is
something worthy of being appreciated. It is commonly said that something is valuable because it meets certain
qualities that distinguish it from other objects of its kind, for example, an expensive pearl
Tahitian, the most beautiful among all types of pearls due to its unique characteristics.
Human beings can assign value to other beings, objects, activities, etc. This value resides in
a good thing, but it is different from him. For example, one can say that a chair is valuable. The chair is the
well, but its value lies in the comfort it provides to whoever sits in it.
In the same way, it can be considered that, in the case of human beings, our person is
the good, however, value is expressed in behaviors that are worthy of being appreciated: truthfulness,
kindness, prudence, for example.
The philosophical discipline that deals with values is axiology. It comes from the Greek words.
axios: valuable worth, and logos: treatise, which in its origin means 'study of that which is'
"worthy" or "treatise on the worthy or valuable." Over time, its meaning has changed,
finally defining itself as "study or theory of values."
Next, you will learn which aspects of values are the competence of axiology, and what
way your study is useful. But first, do a simple exercise.
What was your criteria for assigning value to the elements in the previous activity?
Starting from that exercise, you will realize that the elements that make up the world do not
they are indifferent to us, they possess characteristics that make them good or bad, ugly or beautiful,
pleasant or unpleasant.
Human beings always adopt a position towards their surroundings, depending on the
characteristics they possess or the value they assign to them: this means that they make judgments
existential and value (García, 1977).
Ana finds a bracelet thrown on the sidewalk. Immediately, she makes an existential judgment.
about her: she is blue, metallic, about ten centimeters and is engraved with flowers.
Later, she makes a value judgment: she likes it, she thinks it's beautiful, and she believes it will look very good on her.
well with a certain dress that she keeps in her closet.
Can you see the difference between existential judgments and value judgments?
The first are objectives, as they state characteristics of objects that are not questionable.
simply "are". On the contrary, value judgments depend on the liking or disliking that
they provoke, as they are subjective (since taste varies from person to person).
It should be clarified that the latter do not have a direct relationship with the moral judgments you studied.
in unit 1, as they refer to the conformity or nonconformity of human acts with
certain moral norms, while value judgments are qualities added to the
objects or behaviors of people.
In the case of values, it cannot be said that they exist just like a bracelet or a pencil, since
what are attributes that are imputed to objects just like in a trial of fact or value. They are worth,
they are qualities that are shown.
Characteristics of values
For example: solidarity is not something that exists, but it is worth it. It is attributable to people, not
it does not depend on time or space (that is, it is not measurable in quantity), it is absolute (it cannot be
being "partially supportive") and has a counterpart that makes it polar: selfishness.
To deepen the characteristics of values, read the text What are values?, by Risieri
Frondizi. In this way, you will learn about some aspects of the debate that has existed around the
nature of values, as well as their independence from objects that have an existence
material.
There are countless values, among them there are hierarchies, depending on the criteria with which
to be classified. Based on Max Scheler's proposal, you will review how they can be prioritized.
some values over others:
Scheler argues that religious values are of the highest hierarchy, while other values
tools are inferior to the rest.
Thus, for example, it is preferable to save a person's life (be it a homeless person or a politician
prestigious, since it is an ethical value) than a valuable work of art (which has a value
aesthetic) (Scheler, 2000).
As for how to prioritize certain values over others, it can be said that it influences the
daily environment, thus, the rules and norms that the family instills in its members are those that
assume in the first instance.
It also happens that certain values are acquired when interacting with other groups or
social institutions.
Unfortunately, at times the sense of belonging seems more important than values.
what is assumed, that is why in gangs of criminals, for example, more than assuming values, they
they acquire anti-values that generate mechanisms of moral disconnection.
Next, we will address the operability of values in the current world. The goal is that
reflections on the criteria that should guide your actions in professional practice.
In every society, there is a series of concerns related to economic development and the
implementation of technologies, as it is noted that these are the minimum necessary conditions
that would guarantee the well-being of its individuals.
However, it is only possible to establish an authentic state of prosperity when one contemplates
the needs of others and establish cooperative relationships with them.
In this sense, economic and technological development must never be disconnected from respect for the
human dignity. Just as you reviewed in unit 2, our social commitment as beings
humans obligate us to an ethical application of the knowledge we acquire, assuming
our freedom with responsibility.
While each individual has a set of values and is part of religions, schools, or affiliations.
different policies, one must recognize the right that others have to exist and maintain their
own beliefs; on the other hand, this diversity reflects the richness of our species.
Living in a pluralistic and just society can only be achieved through a commitment to values.
as:
responsible freedom
equality
solidarity
active respect
the dialogue
Human rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was approved on December 10, 1948 by
the States that were part of the United Nations (UN) at that time
moments. From that moment, every State that wishes to join the UN must sign the
Declaration, committing to respect such rights in its legal system.
The text of the statement was prepared by a commission that included politicians,
thinkers, writers, and relevant personalities from numerous nations. Efforts were made to gather
the aspirations of the greatest number possible of societies and cultures.
The declaration consists of a preamble, where the general objectives are included and proclaimed.
that Human Rights are "the common ideal that all peoples and nations must
to strive
any human being. They constitute an achievement, based on the intrinsic value of the
persons, the recognition of the freedom of the human being and in the practice of values that
they recognize their dignity and their right to self-fulfillment.
In recent years, the growing degeneration of ecological systems has been fostered.
social issues as a consequence of the political and economic practices generated from the
industrial revolution.
The term sustainable development was first used in 1987, within the document that
he outlined the work of the World Commission on Environment and Development of the United Nations
Unidas created in the United Nations Assembly in 1983. This work, called
Our common future is also known as the 'Brundtland Report' in honor of the former prime minister
Swedish minister Harlem Brundtland, who led this commission.
This document is based on the premise that a series of values need to be established.
orient actions in daily life, work, and activities, changing the way of thinking of
from an individualistic consciousness to a sustainable consciousness (that is, the balance of our species
with the resources of the planet).
The above implies a change from some conventional principles to those that will allow the
well-being of our generation without compromising the well-being of future generations:
2. Solidarity and the struggle for the good of all (in opposition to individualism).
5. Long-term planning.
The following will address the three axes that encompass sustainable awareness.
The three pillars of sustainability
Environmental axis: seeks respect for ecosystems and implies compatibility between activities
social and economic issues, as well as the preservation of biodiversity. It highlights the need for
modify the consumption guidelines for:
Reversing environmental degradation and maintaining the material basis for development.
Social axis: it establishes that the needs of society such as education must be met.
health, food, clothing, housing, public services, security and work.
The concept of sustainable development requires, as a condition, to give great importance to the
dimensions associated with quality of life, such as access to education, employment, health,
social security, housing in risk-free spaces with services, infrastructure and
equipment.
As well as to values such as:
social justice
democracy
security
Economic axis: consider, as a measure of well-being, the quantity of material goods and services
goods produced by a country, divided by the number of its inhabitants (what is known as the
name of GDP per capita) or any measure directly related to it.
For a young person of the current era, it is very difficult to have the necessary motivation to plan their
life according to the values of sustainability as it is threatened by a complete
uncertainty generated by various anti-values; these threaten their coexistence and development,
because in the eagerness to make him a client of something or someone, the centers of power have (him/her)
bombarded with information and recommendations that contradict each other and that
they generate a permanent dissatisfaction.
However, consider that the best action you can take, regardless of
your age, socio-cultural or economic level, is to ensure a quality behavior based on
in values that dignify you and, in turn, promote the common good.
The topic of Criteria for Decision Making will be addressed next, which includes the
importance of embracing the values that were mentioned.
3.2. Criteria for Decision Making
Can you remember a decision that seemed trivial, but ended up radically changing your life?
life?
Some decisions can be made in seconds, others require more time and present a
greatest challenge. Generally, the most significant decisions in our life are those that
They require a much more complex analysis process.
Making a decision involves choosing an option among several alternatives to achieve a specific goal.
It consists of defining the objective that one wants to achieve, gathering all relevant information (there is
to take into account our preferences, values, etc.) to finally outline a plan of
action.
Carrying out an appropriate planning process allows for a better life and grants control over
our lives. Naturally, this process requires time and dedication, clarity and perseverance.
We must be aware of this in order to plan correctly, as well as to focus all our
interest and efforts in this task.
It is worth noting that many of human frustrations are due to the little
understanding of the processes for making decisions and the lack of courage and discipline
to act accordingly.
It is not enough to make decisions; one must work to turn them into actions that satisfy.
your needs or set goals.
To a large extent, the direction your life has taken and will take depends on the previous decisions you made.
you have taken.
According to Pantoja Ospina (2002), there are different cognitive styles, which can influence
in the way people make their decisions;
On the next screen, you will be able to review the impulsive, dependent, autonomous, and reflective styles.
Impulsive style
Makes decisions very quickly, without reflection, responding only to immediate desires,
with the first answer that comes to mind without analyzing consequences. It overlooks the mistakes.
Dependent style
Only take into account the opinions of others and mainly seek their approval or appreciation.
Moreover, above all to look good. Their decisions are based on the judgment of others.
Autonomous style
He is not influenced by social pressure or the media; he is capable of making decisions for himself.
Reflective style
Reflect before deciding, seek information, analyze the various alternatives, and assess the possible ones.
consequences of each one. That is, let time pass before proposing a solution to the
problem; avoid making mistakes and seek favorable answers.
Not as such. There is no unique process for decision-making; it depends on many factors.
both external and internal. However, if we generalize, they could be grouped under certain
criteria.
Decision making
Establishment of specific goals and objectives.
They must be realistic and achievable. This will be elaborated on later.
2. Identification and definition of the problem.
They can be of three types: opportunity, crisis, and routine. Crisis and routine ones come by themselves,
Opportunities must be discovered and can go unnoticed.
3. Establishing priorities.
Determine the degree of importance of the problems based on three aspects: urgency, impact
and tendency to growth:
The urgency is related to time. It has to do with the questions: Should it be taken
Quickly? Is time a determining factor in making the decision?
The impact focuses on the severity of the effects of the problem, it is not the same if it affects
a situation or if it changes our whole life.
a) Certainty. Having complete knowledge of the probability of the outcome of each option.
It is worth noting that you have to experience these processes to build your own model, although
many times, as the situations that arise are different, you will have to adapt and
be creative in finding the best solutions.
Remember that the more you know yourself, the easier it will be for you to come up with more and better models for
decide; therefore, do not forget to consider aspects such as:
Your risk propensity, the forces and influences that affect your decision-making, etc.
Values must also be considered when deciding, since they are raised from the moment of...
objectives or the options to choose from, it becomes necessary to make value judgments for the selection and the
assignment of priorities. Likewise, when one of the alternatives is chosen, it is the values of
the person who determines the option when choosing.
3.2.1. Priorities and existential objectives
Man is a being that has awareness of the future and has the ability to transcend. Therefore,
It is necessary to build a life project that guides your existence so that it does not
go with stumbling and no direction as that would lead to continuous failure.
Identifying your priorities in life and what your goals are helps you to
have a defined personal life project, to give meaning to your existence, a mission
of life that helps you lead a fulfilling existence.
Abraham Maslow (2003) noted that 'the future also exists currently in the person, under the
form of ideals, hopes, duties, tasks, plans, objectives, unrealized potentialities,
mission, destination, etc.
That is why it is personally important to create the process that helps you efficiently.
effectiveness to discover in the present, your future, and to generate the drive to conquer the objectives
development personnel.
However, one of the greatest difficulties often arises when you have to choose.
between different things or activities and you find it hard to do so. Sometimes it creates anxiety for not
be able to make a decision since everything is important and one does not want to 'say no to anyone'. Thus,
The more you stress, the less you can decide.
When this happens, it means that you do not have your priorities clear or established, and that is why you find it difficult.
working to make a decision generates an internal conflict between the things you want and what in
Reality is about choosing what you can really do. It's difficult, but it can be learned.
The first step to establishing priorities is to know what you want, what is really important.
for you, not for others, unless you want to please others. For this, what you can do is
to observe you.
You surely know someone who says that the most important thing for her or him is their health but
he eats things that are not good for him and when he feels bad he doesn't go to the doctor, do you identify anyone?
sure it is.
Often, we say and believe that something is important to us, however, our
behavior shows something different.
Have you ever been told that you are loved but will never be seen or are spoken to just to find out how you are?
Are you there?
Many times we do not reflect on the things we do since we are not very aware of
the values acquired by our culture or the education received that affect our behavior.
That's why it's important to know each other, as the more we know each other, the easier we can.
choose.
If you analyze your behavior, you can see what is behind it and accept it as part of you without
to judge you, this way you can establish your priorities. When you do it, some obstacles arise like
the fear of rejection or criticism, even of anger.
In this way, if what is important to you is to do something or stop doing it despite others, you have
that focusing on yourself. On the contrary, if what you want is to please others, choose that way.
According to psychologist Silvia Russek, there are a series of steps that allow for establishing priorities.
Evaluate the results, the positive (what you gain if you do it) and the negative (what you lose or stop)
obtain, if you do not carry it out) from each situation and choose what suits you best.
You can do it by dividing the sheet into three columns: in the first note the task or activity.
pending; in the second, the negative, what it implies for you to carry them out (the time you have for it
what to dedicate to, activities that you will stop carrying out, people who may get upset, etc.;
and in the third, the benefits you are going to obtain.
It doesn't matter in which column you write more things, what matters is which one holds more weight for you, which one has value.
Compare the different options two by two, choosing the most important between the two.
Suppose you have the following list and you can't decide:
3. Rest, because I had a very bad night and I'm going to lose sleep.
First you compare 1 with 2, 1 with 3, and 1 with 4. Then 2 with 3 and 2 with 4 and
finally the 3 with the 4.
Every time you compare 2 options, put an X on the one that is more important.
In the end, you will obtain the results in the following way:
Visit a friend who is sick.
3. Rest, because I had a very bad night and I'm going to stay awake.
Each day is different and what you choose today may be different from what you decide tomorrow. Act.
Carry out the tasks you chose as priorities. Don't leave anything pending.
Remember that there are always interruptions, unforeseen events, or we might miscalculate our
time. That's why leave some time available, to ease the pressure a bit, delegate or ask for help.
whenever necessary since what is important is not only that you comply with everything but that you do not
You wear yourself out too much or the fact of meeting all obligations does not have a negative impact on your life.
When you create a life project, you choose a path to follow, leaving aside others.
options, which often creates an existential conflict that complicates decision making
decision.
For example, it happens when a person has to decide which career they are going to study, or when
he is already studying it and it did not meet his expectations, the person feels dissatisfied in
sometime and reflect on the possibility of a new path for your life.
The concept of project comes from the Latin proiectus which refers to the set of activities
coordinated and interconnected that seek to achieve a specific objective. In this way,
One could say that a life project is the direction that a person defines for their own
existence.
When we talk about a project, we refer to the set of activities that are coordinated and
interrelated aim to achieve a specific objective. In this way, when talking about
life project, we refer to the direction that a person defines for their own existence.
Considering their values, an individual projects the actions they will take in life to fulfill
with their wishes and goals. It is about developing a program of activities to follow in order to achieve their
life goals.
It is an ideal model of what the individual expects or wants to be and do, which takes shape
concrete in the real disposition and its internal and external possibilities of achieving it, defining its
relationship towards the world and towards oneself, their reason for being as an individual in a context and type of
determined society.
In the life project, functions and contents of personality are outlined in the fields of
vital situations of the person:
Styles and mechanisms of action that involve forms of self-expression: personal integration,
self-direction and self-development.
Another way to define a life plan is to say that it involves the enumeration of
the goals that a person wants to achieve throughout their life and a guide that proposes how
reach them. This plan may include personal, professional, economic, and spiritual goals.
It also includes long-term goals: the subject can think about where they would like to be within
five or ten years, and from that idea, start to develop the plan.
For this reason, the life plan is also an action plan, with steps to follow and deadlines. It is
it is necessary to be evaluated periodically to know if the objectives have been met and if not,
propose new actions.
Personal decision
Every day we shape our life, what we do today is the foundation of our future life.
the quality of our life is determined by the quality of our decisions and actions. Thus
the way each one is the builder of their own life and personal destiny.
Social responsibility
Individual personality
Each life and every situation that arises in it happens only once and does not return.
repeating itself, it is also possible to change the path whenever necessary but there is
to be aware of the consequences of what we do.
Self-respect
Recognize that as human beings, the life we have is the most valuable asset and
sacred that we receive, will help us to value it and to seek meaning. We must not
leave our existence to chance, we must respect and improve what we have
I have been given.
Self-affirmation
Achievement motivation
Very often, the image a person has of themselves does not match the
real image of what it is or wants to be. Creating a life plan helps a person to
to develop, to transform into what it wants to be. Some authors agree that
that one of the factors of success is having life goals.
There is only one life to achieve fulfillment. Human beings are restricted by their
organic nature, does not have all the time in the world to do what
wants. So, time is not lost, but the person misses the opportunity to
to be what one truly wants as time runs out.
It's not just about dreaming of the future, but about working to achieve it. Moving in
the course set to reach the desired place. One must advance taking advantage of the
fortresses and overcoming weaknesses. "Each person is the captain of their own ship.
of their life and, therefore, responsible for leading it to their own unique destiny.
Life Project
Why think about the past if we cannot change it? The future is what
we can fully develop. To develop fully, one can build
a project of life. Observe yourself towards the future, how do you see yourself?, use your imagination,
What do you see?, what do you want to be? David Mc Nally proposes five qualities of a person.
self-confident: self-esteem, vision, purpose, commitment, and contribution, such
qualities are the psychological foundations to get ahead in this world so
changing.
Speed of change
We always live in community, we are never alone. Why not give ourselves and give to
other better opportunities in this globalized world we live in?
Planning encompasses all those actions that determine the objectives for the future and
the appropriate means to achieve them. In this planning, the goals and objectives are considered,
actions, resources that are required.
The first thing to establish are the goals, where do I want to get to?, then there is a need to
describe the characteristics of each one and the timelines for carrying them out. The goals must
to have the following characteristics:
Indicate the priority of each one, and its function: Do they help you solve problems?
Do they increase your motivation? Do they help you progress?
They should be temporally divided into short (up to 12 months), medium (from 12 months to 3 years)
and long term (more than three years).
To be written.
Be specific.
Be measurable.
Be worthy of you.
Being able to visualize oneself.
Can be scheduled.
3.4. Self-actualization
According to Maslow (2003), humans have various needs, the highest of which is
the need for self-actualization. This is a need that is difficult to describe as it varies from one
person to another.
In order for a human being to achieve self-actualization, many needs must be met.
preventive measures to avoid interference or the use of energies that are dedicated to this development.
Within these are the needs to satisfy personal capabilities,
develop one's own potential, to do that for which one has the best aptitudes and the
need to develop and expand the 'metamotives' (discovering truth, creating beauty, producing
order and promote justice.)