Values are the feature set of a particular person or organization, which determine how they become behave and interact with other individuals and with the environment.
The word value can mean merit, talent, reputation, courage and bravery. Thus, we can say that human values are moral values that affect people's conduct. These moral values can also be considered social and ethical values, and constitute a set of established rules for a healthy coexistence within a society.
Some authors claim that nowadays the biggest crisis that human beings can face (and that we are facing) is a crisis of values, as it affects humanity, which starts to live in a more selfish, cruel and violent.
Thus, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of good examples in society, since the transmission of important human values is the basis for a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Humans values
The values called human are values and principles based on moral and ethical concepts. They define the form of relationship between people and, consequently, the relationship and functioning of a society.
In this way, these values can be considered as the basis of human and social relationships, functioning as a set of norms that guide human interactions and decisions.
Among the most important human values are respect among people, empathy, a feeling of solidarity, cordiality and education. The notion of justice, honesty and humility are also important values for good coexistence.
Learn more about Humans values.
Values of a company
Each company has a specific motivation and identity. A company stands out from others not only for what it develops in its area of expertise, but also for the clear development and dissemination of its mission, vision and values.
Thus, a company's values consist of behaviors that determine how a business is managed, that is, which values are the bases for the decisions taken.
A sustainable company is usually based on values such as honesty, social responsibility, integrity, innovation, sustainability, transparency, intelligence, inspiration, flexibility, among others.
It is very important that these rules and principles are passed on from hierarchical superiors to or other employees of the company, so that they can together achieve higher standards of success. That's why a company's ethical values are a crucial part of its organizational culture.
read all about ethics: types, examples and ethics vs. morals.
Philosophy of Values
The philosophy of values consists of a theory of values developed, among others, by Hermann Lotze, Franz Brentano, Alexius von Meinong and Heinrich Rickert between the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the XX.
Lotze sought to merge positivist naturalism with critical idealism through the formation of a new concept of values, whose essential characteristic is the worth, in the sense of being valid.
It is important to distinguish between the different positions within the general theory of values:
- idealistic theory: also known as "Platonic Theory of Value", which conceives of values as absolute entities, which are independent of men and reality.
- realist theory: in this regard the values are characteristics of the real "and no".
- relativist perspective: this understanding only knows the values in their relationship with man and considers them correlative entities of a subjective appreciation and judgment.
Also read the meanings of ethical values, moral values and ethic.