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Framework for Reasonable Values
This MOR resource not an attempt to forward particular
values, but instead is a framework for how to select and
work with values intelligently. Different people and
societies all have their own priorities and perspectives.
Yet as the world grows sociologically closer together,
there are certain ways of dealing with our inherited and
acquired values that can help us face the challenges of
entering the age of a global society.
This framework can also help us apply what we learn to
what we assume. This helps us adapt to the challenges
that life, science, and our environment present to
humanity, and to personally make sure that we are
becoming the best people we can be.
This MOR resource not an attempt to forward particular
values, but instead is a framework for how to select and
work with values intelligently. Different people and
societies all have their own priorities and perspectives.
Yet as the world grows sociologically closer together,
there are certain ways of dealing with our inherited and
acquired values that can help us face the challenges of
entering the age of a global society.
This framework can also help us apply what we learn to
what we assume. This helps us adapt to the challenges
that life, science, and our environment present to
humanity, and to personally make sure that we are
becoming the best people we can be.
Evolving Relevance
Realize that values do change over time as situations
change. Otherwise the value we see in things and ideas is
disconnected from reality.
Continuous Improvement
Evaluate one's values and the values of one's society on a
regular basis for relevance, significance, and effects. If we
see ways of changing values to enhance the benefits and
minimize harm, we should take the responsibility to do that.
Analytical Understanding
Consider each value, or component of a value individually,
rather than accepting or rejecting a package of values as an
ultimatum. Each priority we set has implications that must be
assessed for its own merits.
Substance-Based Significance
Acquire values based on understanding of the effects that
holding such priorities have in life, including the benefits,
consequences, and risks. Reject the submission to any
value merely because of insistence, claims of authority, or
threats, whether these are metaphysical or otherwise.
Re-evaluation of Our Legacy
As situations change, or as we have time, reevaluate core
cultural and societal assumptions and values. Accepting or
defending inherited or habitual values dogmatically leads to
poor decision-making, prejudice, and dysfunctional
inter-cultural relationships as we move into a global society.
Pinning decisions on inherited cultural mandates leads to
senseless irreconcilable conflict.
Methodical Implementation
As the level of human interaction rises, humanity needs to
make a collective effort to adapt and integrate values on a
personal, regional, and global scale using methods that can
1) provide smooth transitions to new relationships, 2) make
clear personal and societal responsibilities for setting goals,
and 3) be able to adapt with minimal disruption as new
challenges and social structures arise.
Open Adoption
When promoting values, the source references, motivations,
reasoning and expected effects should all be presented in
as open a manner as possible, while responding directly and
coherently to critical analysis.
Demonstrable Worth
Acknoweldge values as relevant and substantive only when
holding such a value can be demonstrated to have
substantive, significant and demonstrable effects. Holding
any value as absolute, based on insistence or proclaimed
authority (whether metaphysical or otherwise), has no
substantive moral significance. Anyone can call on the
name of a hero or deity with malintent or misunderstanding.
Yet everyone has a responsibility to openly dismiss such a
presentation as bigotry, so that mindless value acquisition
does not prevail.
Informed Judgment
Before assessing whether holding any single value has
relevance, we are each responsible for broadly educating
ourselves about what options we have for setting priorities.
We can no longer mentally isolate ourselves in a single
culture, but must consider the effects that our decisions
have broadly on humanity. This means both expanding our
basis for decisions beyond a single set of traditions, and
taking personal responsibility for understanding the priorities
that we select.
Recursive Implementation
Value analysis is an ongoing process. As we acquire new
values, perhaps long-held ones become less relevant. As
situations change in the physical and social environment,
continuous evaluation is needed. As new challenges are
presented to humanity, we need to learn, updating our
principles, our priorities, and our values in the light of new
insight and understanding.
Realize that values do change over time as situations
change. Otherwise the value we see in things and ideas is
disconnected from reality.
Continuous Improvement
Evaluate one's values and the values of one's society on a
regular basis for relevance, significance, and effects. If we
see ways of changing values to enhance the benefits and
minimize harm, we should take the responsibility to do that.
Analytical Understanding
Consider each value, or component of a value individually,
rather than accepting or rejecting a package of values as an
ultimatum. Each priority we set has implications that must be
assessed for its own merits.
Substance-Based Significance
Acquire values based on understanding of the effects that
holding such priorities have in life, including the benefits,
consequences, and risks. Reject the submission to any
value merely because of insistence, claims of authority, or
threats, whether these are metaphysical or otherwise.
Re-evaluation of Our Legacy
As situations change, or as we have time, reevaluate core
cultural and societal assumptions and values. Accepting or
defending inherited or habitual values dogmatically leads to
poor decision-making, prejudice, and dysfunctional
inter-cultural relationships as we move into a global society.
Pinning decisions on inherited cultural mandates leads to
senseless irreconcilable conflict.
Methodical Implementation
As the level of human interaction rises, humanity needs to
make a collective effort to adapt and integrate values on a
personal, regional, and global scale using methods that can
1) provide smooth transitions to new relationships, 2) make
clear personal and societal responsibilities for setting goals,
and 3) be able to adapt with minimal disruption as new
challenges and social structures arise.
Open Adoption
When promoting values, the source references, motivations,
reasoning and expected effects should all be presented in
as open a manner as possible, while responding directly and
coherently to critical analysis.
Demonstrable Worth
Acknoweldge values as relevant and substantive only when
holding such a value can be demonstrated to have
substantive, significant and demonstrable effects. Holding
any value as absolute, based on insistence or proclaimed
authority (whether metaphysical or otherwise), has no
substantive moral significance. Anyone can call on the
name of a hero or deity with malintent or misunderstanding.
Yet everyone has a responsibility to openly dismiss such a
presentation as bigotry, so that mindless value acquisition
does not prevail.
Informed Judgment
Before assessing whether holding any single value has
relevance, we are each responsible for broadly educating
ourselves about what options we have for setting priorities.
We can no longer mentally isolate ourselves in a single
culture, but must consider the effects that our decisions
have broadly on humanity. This means both expanding our
basis for decisions beyond a single set of traditions, and
taking personal responsibility for understanding the priorities
that we select.
Recursive Implementation
Value analysis is an ongoing process. As we acquire new
values, perhaps long-held ones become less relevant. As
situations change in the physical and social environment,
continuous evaluation is needed. As new challenges are
presented to humanity, we need to learn, updating our
principles, our priorities, and our values in the light of new
insight and understanding.
Currently all entries are © Erik Moore
To submit resources to our editors, please use the contact
MOR button above or click here.
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Text and images falls under the copyright of the author when indicated.
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Text and images falls under the copyright of the author when indicated.
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