HUMAN VALUES
Human values are the moral inclinations that guide people to interact with others in a way
that considers the human element. They are universal and shared by all people, regardless of
their religion, culture, nationality, or history.
Human Values are the fundamental principles that promote a just and harmonious
society. They are a basis for moral decision-making and help people decide what they believe
to be right or wrong.
Some of the common universal human values includes the following-
1. Love and compassion
2. Truthfulness
3. Respect for others
4. Non-violence
5. Responsibility and accountability.
6. Justice and fairness
7. Integrity
8. Gratitude
9. Empathy
FACTORS AFFECTING HUMAN VALUES
Tracing the origin of human values can be a complex process, as these values have multiple
sources of origin. Human values have evolved over a very long period. Humans have created
and recreated them based on their social and cultural surroundings such as:
1. Influences from Culture and Society: Culture has a big impact on how people value
things. The socialization processes that take place in families, communities, educational
institutions, and larger cultural contexts frequently result in the transmission of values.
Specific values within a culture can arise and are reinforced through cultural norms,
traditions, and practices.
2. Family and Upbringing: The formation of human values is significantly influenced by
family dynamics and upbringing. An individual’s value system is greatly influenced by
the values they are taught by their parents or other key caregivers, as well as by the
family’s cultural, religious, or ideological backgrounds.
3. Formal Institutions and Education: Education, both formal and Universal Human
Values informal, is a key factor in determining values. Values can be taught at educational
institutions through their curricula, instructional strategies, and extracurricular activities.
The development of people’s value systems can be influenced by the values that are
promoted in educational systems and institutions.
4. Personal Experiences and Interactions: Human values can be shaped and altered
through personal experiences, such as social interactions and exposure to various
viewpoints. Events can have a positive or negative impact on a person’s values by causing
them to reflect and reevaluate their views and priorities. Examples of such events include
personal successes, hardships, or experiencing injustice.
5. Media and Popular Culture: By promoting popular ideas, customs, and lifestyles,
media, including television, films, books, and social media, can shape values. A person’s
exposure to new ideas, challenges to their held beliefs, or reinforcement of society values
can all be influenced by the media.
6. Religion and Spirituality: For many people, religion and spiritual beliefs play a crucial
role in forming the core of their human values. A framework for moral principles, ethical
precepts and value systems that affect believers’ behaviours and decision-making is
frequently provided by religious teachings and scriptures.
7. Evolutionary and Biological Factors: According to some academics, some values may
have evolved because they promote social cohesiveness and cooperation. A person’s
propensity for specific values or moral judgments may also be influenced
ETHICS
Ethics (also called Moral Philosophy), the discipline concerned with what is morally good
and bad and morally right and wrong. The term is also applied to any system or theory of
moral values or principles
Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that involves systematizing, defending,
and recommending concepts of right and wrong conduct. The term ethics derives from the
Ancient Greek word ethikos, which is derived from the word ethos (habit, “custom”).
