The main human values ​​are social science. List of the main human values

Human life values play a key role in his fate, because decision-making, the realization of the right to choose, the realization of life's purpose, and relationships with other people depend on them.

Each person has his own system of life values, his own priorities. Everyone certainly has values. But, for the most part, people are not aware of their values. And this should definitely be done in order to, as they say, make life easier for yourself. After all, when making any decision, from the most insignificant to the most momentous, one should turn to the system of one's values, and then, it is quite likely, it will be possible to avoid painful doubts and worries.

Human life values- the basis of life choices of varying degrees of importance.

For some, material values ​​are important: money, food, clothing, housing. For some, spiritual values ​​are a priority: spiritual search, disclosure and realization of one's life purpose, creative self-development, the fulfillment of one's earthly mission. But there are so-called universal values ​​that are important for all people. Among these are the following:

1. Love for yourself (which has nothing to do with selfishness). Only self-love helps to show love towards other people.

2. Warm relationships with people on which our whole life is built.

3. A close loved one, a soul mate who has a special place in your heart. After all, only a couple living in love and harmony is able to realize themselves and leave a mark in life.

4. Creating a home.

5. Love for children.

6. Love for the Motherland - the place where you were born and spent your childhood. This is one of the most important factors in the formation of personality.

7. Work or other social activity. Of course, the work is very important. But in the modern world there has been a catastrophic bias in her direction. Too many people devote much more time to earning money than to their own health, sports, raising children, creating a home together.

8. Friends and associates. Communication with such people gives joy and self-confidence.

9. Rest. It is rest that allows us to find peace and balance, to concentrate on ourselves.

Hi all! The values ​​of life are practically the foundation of a person's personality, his core and support. Remember the saying, "Tell me who your friend is, and I'll tell you who you are"? That's exactly the same way you can characterize anyone, having learned what is most important for him, what he aspires to and longs for.

Role and importance in human life

Values ​​help us make decisions and choose the path we want to take. Or rather, they define it. Because, thanks to them, we orient ourselves in this world and understand what should be done and what is better not to do. Otherwise, satisfying needs and realizing dreams will not work. They often give us They bring stability and confidence in a successful future. The main thing is to refrain from imposing them on others, otherwise they will be transformed into an ideology. And this does not always bode well.

They inspire, motivate and give us strength to achieve. Because a person who knows exactly what he wants and firmly believes in the correctness of the chosen path cannot be stopped. It can be said without a shadow of a doubt that they help to find the meaning of their existence. They build character and help create close, deep bonds with people who are similar in their prioritization choices. Agree, it is very difficult to be close to those who devalue. Or does not understand at all the importance of some processes that are significant for the interlocutor or partner.

They also allow the formation of beliefs and a clear position regarding political and, in principle, social issues. Build self-esteem. They are guided in society, in the form of norms and rules of conduct.

Classification

In addition to material and spiritual, professor of psychology and pedagogy, Philip Lersh, identified three main types:

Vital

These are our hobbies, desires and feelings. To put it simply - the image and style of life. For some, the most significant is a quality vacation, which is why he tries to enjoy and satisfy travel as often as possible. And it is more important for someone to invest in material things, rejoicing at the replenishment of the collection of stamps or figurines.

self-importance

This category is more typical for individuals who strive to realize themselves, achieve heights and success, having received recognition and respect from others. Why all the resources and free time are directed to labor activity. An example is inveterate careerists striving to come to power at all costs and so on.

semantic

Based on the name, one can understand that they give meaning and meaning to actions, desires, dreams. This is the desire for creativity, the search for something ideal and perfect. Sincere impulses to serve the good of society and help those who need help.

7 Core Values

Man is in a continuous process of development, except for cases of degradation. He is completely different in different stages of his life. Why is there a constant change of values.

For example, it is not uncommon for successful businessmen to leave their business, sell their houses, cars and go to live in deserted places. To connect with nature and feel the pleasure of life. Their system of priorities was completely changed, old stereotypes and aspirations "fall away", and new ones were developed. They were aware of their problem and sought to correct, to fill the wasted years. And sometimes, and vice versa, the world received geniuses and simply creative individuals who were fed up with solitude and were hungry for communication.

So, despite the fact that everyone has their own views on the world around them and needs, there are still areas that in no case can be ignored. To, as in the previous examples, not to go to extremes. So the core values ​​are:

Health


In the first place, since it is quite difficult to do without it, and sometimes impossible. Agree, without pain and any physical limitations, it is much easier to realize your goals and dreams. Good health is the best companion on the path to success. A surge of strength, vivacity and vigor - isn't this what most of us dream of?

Therefore, it is important to go in for sports, consult doctors in time and periodically undergo examinations to make sure that the state of the body is normal, or to anticipate the occurrence of any disease. Listen to the sensations in your body, follow your desires and quit any kind of addiction. After all, as they say, a healthy mind in a healthy body.

If you don't know where to start, no problem. Recommendations on how to lead a healthy lifestyle, so that it is useful and enjoyable, and does not consist of restrictions, you will receive by clicking on.

Spirituality

Spirituality is quite multifaceted, and consists of faith, ethics, inner balance and harmony with the outside world, nature, understanding the meaning of life and one's purpose. It also affects the moral side of the individual. All this together helps to feel happiness, to understand what actions are worth doing and what are not. To cope with difficulties, after all, what, if not faith, gives us the strength and motivation to act and move on, no matter what? It is very important to develop spirituality in yourself, and you will learn how to do it.

Proximity

It is important to receive it both in friendships and in family relationships. Communication is in fact our most important need, after, of course, the physiological ones. To continue your lineage, to feel support and support behind your back, to know that there are associates and people in general who care about you is really valuable.

Many, not getting intimacy, try to replace it with material things, which give the illusion that, in principle, one can live without love. But in fact, the saturation and satisfaction from this is superficial, and short-lived. Nothing can fully replace contact with another person, healthy and full of feelings.

Financial position


Financial independence provides a person with comfort, peace, stability, and sometimes health. Each of us simply must be able to plan expenses, have a passive type of income and avoid falling into a debt hole. Otherwise, anxiety, stress and poor health will be constant companions.

Thanks to money, we can purchase quality products, equip our lives in such a way that it is comfortable. Travel the world, expanding horizons and boundaries of consciousness, learn new things and more. The problem arises when a person tries to replace all other needs directly with money, ignoring relationships, recreation, hobbies. Therefore, take it into service and begin to improve your financial situation.

Career

The realization of one's ambitions and abilities is sometimes vital, as it allows one to gain recognition from colleagues, relatives, and society as a whole. Achieving career success and professional competence, a person experiences self-esteem, and this has a positive effect on his self-esteem.

This includes not only professional activities, but also charity. Helping others is the best way to increase self-worth, and for some it also gives an understanding of one's destiny.

Rest

To be inspired and recharged with energy, it is important to be able to have a good rest. And believe me, not everyone is capable of this. Life's troubles and grandiose plans are sometimes so addictive that a person is afraid to relax even for a minute. Wallowing in front of the TV or spending time playing computer games and social networks actually takes time, and does not allow you to sufficiently restore strength and resources.

To get new emotions, you need to change your usual way of life. The culture of modern society promotes a whole host of entertainment and opportunities to relax qualitatively, to try new things for yourself. So choose the moment and spend your holidays and weekends with pleasure, without reproaching yourself for laziness.

Self-development


There is no limit to perfection, and no matter how advanced you are, there is always something more to learn. Get to know not only the world around you, but also your internal structure, so to speak, the structure of your personality. You are constantly changing, and it is very important to notice the slightest changes in order to know how to treat yourself, build relationships with others, and also advance in your career.

Conclusion

In order to understand which area requires your urgent attention, I want to offer you an interesting method called the Balance Wheel. It will help you see a holistic picture of your problem areas and vice versa, the benefits. You can get acquainted with it by clicking .

The material was prepared by a psychologist and Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina.

The value of human life

Many people ask such questions: What is the most valuable thing in life? How often do we think about the meaning of life? Do we value life itself? Now let's think: what is the value of human life? What opportunities do we have?

First of all, it is the consciousness, the human mind. Unlike animals, we are able, when faced with a problem, not just suffering, to experience it, we can explore suffering, understand what its causes are. We can find ways to eliminate this suffering and eliminate its causes. This is the value of human life.

The value of human life - human life - is an irreplaceable resource and has a really great potential value. But the value of the resource in itself does not mean anything. As a metaphor, let's take, for example, a diamond - a valuable, expensive stone, but in itself it is not very attractive: it is just a piece of rock, beautiful, but so far meaningless. It is later, when the diamond is cut by the hands of the master, it will shine, playing and shimmering with its sparkling facets, reflecting the sun's rays of a young day and will rive the eyes with its beauty and give joy. It is the same with a person’s life: if he, an attentive master, builds his life soundly and beautifully, taking care that the same strong lives are built next to him, his life becomes a masterpiece, his main and great creation. If a person randomly stacks bricks anyhow, uses everything that comes to hand, does not care about a strong foundation and reliable walls, builds on the one hand, destroys on the other, and even prevents others from building - his life turns out to be nothing more than than a pile of bricks piled together. If life is spent in vain, nowhere, in drinking and empty chatter about beautiful things, the value of such a life as a result turns out to be low, although the resource itself was very expensive. If life is lived beautifully, strongly, taking care of at least oneself and one's loved ones, or many people at one's own expense, the value of such a life will be high. A person makes the value of his life himself: it depends on his choice in which direction he wants to live and will live. And only his choice will be where to give away an irreplaceable, and therefore incredibly valuable resource: bury it under a pile of bricks or invest it in a magnificent Temple. Human life is a great value. It is not comparable to any other value (other type). In this sense, it is similar to a transfinite number. Which, by definition, is greater than any integer or real number. Infinitely more.

So, the value of human life is not comparable with the value of anything else. It is, by definition, more valuable than anything else. But it can be compared with the value of another human life.

The absolute value of a person makes his life as a value special, not like all others. The question of how to understand the absolute value of a person was discussed above. Now the turn has come to determine what is included in the content of the values ​​of human life. The sign by which we can determine whether this or that value is among the vital ones will be such a manifestation of life, which will turn out to be the deepest, primordial, complete and immediate, indivisible manifestation of it.

Let me explain with an example. For example, a man was found under the rubble of a collapsed house. He is saved regardless of whether he is a believer or an atheist, educated or not, whether he is a hero or an ordinary citizen. They save him, first of all, as a living being, they save his life.

Such values, as noted above, are called existential, which form the basis of all other manifestations of life and values, which is associated with the fundamental meanings of human existence.

These values ​​include: life, death (not in itself, but because the finiteness of life is its most important characteristic), love, family, the birth and upbringing of children, freedom, solitude, participation, work, rest, creativity.

Life or existence is the core, basic value of a person. It is the general condition of all his states and actions. But it is important to emphasize that it is not the value of life that is prioritized, but the value of a person, since it is the personality that exists, the personality lives, the personality exists, while life, no matter how valuable and significant in itself it may seem to us, is nothing more than the most immediate place, the center of the emergence of personality, the way of its existence in the world.

If personality is essence and life is existence, then our existence precedes our essence. To say that an entity exists is to say that a person lives. But it is the essence, the personal principle that is the semantic and value center of a person.

The value of life as such is twofold. On the one hand, life is given to us as the highest gift, a universal opportunity, and therefore we must highly value life, feel reverence and respect for it. On the other hand, life is given to those who are not just life, but a person - a creature living its own life, a free, thinking, creative being, knowing life, its beginning and end, its limitless possibilities and its biological boundaries, a being aware of finiteness life. And therefore, the one to whom it is presented, given (literally for nothing!) In order to be lived by him - more priority, more important than life, is its subject. Good or bad is another question. There are lives of genius, and there are lives of mediocrity.

Perhaps there is even a law of life: we are either higher than life, if we live it worthily, or lower, that is, we are unworthy of this gift, if we live somehow, going with the flow. But in any case, a person and his life are not the same thing.

The birth of a personality is an act of life going beyond its biological limits. This means that reason and freedom are born in her womb, giving rise to a whole firework of unique cultural phenomena that cannot be reduced to life as a biological process.

Life is either there or it isn't. But its quality may vary. If we live, support our life, love and care for it in the name of good and not at the expense of the lives and values ​​of other people, then we are human, and our life is good and rich. If inhuman principles take over in us, then our life begins to degrade, weaken, become poorer and weaker. Its value decreases to the extent that it burns through, kills the inhuman in us.

The more humane, richer our life, the higher its value. Life is valuable to the extent that I am the human master of my life.

“Just to live”, to live a passive, vegetative life, surrendering to the flow of everyday life and the momentary, means to thoughtlessly waste your start-up capital, that initial reserve of life that we all already have by the time the first acts of consciousness and self-consciousness appear, by the time of awakening in us personality and humanity.

There is a saying: one person lives to eat, the other eats to live. A humane person can say that he eats and lives in order to become and be a human person, in order to create himself and the values ​​of personal, social and universal life, in order to improve and elevate the dignity of man.

Life is a value because it is the initial base, a way, a process in the course of which we can only manifest, call to active being, realize our humanity, all our positive qualities and virtues, all our values.

From this alone, human life becomes infinitely valuable, becomes a universal value.

The boundless value of life is already manifested in the fact that it invites everyone and everything to its feast, to the feast of life, for everyone and every human being it finds a place at its holiday. As our priceless gift and a real chance, without any preconditions, she tells each of us - live!

Perhaps what has just been said sounded too declarative. There are illnesses that make existence itself a test, early deaths, and so on.

And yet, in the infinite value of life, as long as we can live, all its black spots seem to sink. Every mentally healthy person cherishes life, regardless of whether it looks successful by accepted standards or not - this is another confirmation of our thought.

However, life itself, regardless of its assessment, which is always secondary, requires a humane attitude towards itself. To be realized as a value, it must be, must be preserved as such, it must be maintained, strengthened and enriched. But some internal reserves of life, the instincts of its self-preservation are not enough. And that's why.

Life is the universal, all-embracing basis of human existence. This means that it is open to both the human and the inhuman in us. That is why it can be both joy, and grief, and wings, and a yoke around the neck, and luxury, good luck, and poverty, failure and a curse.

Millions and tens of millions of drug addicts and alcoholics, homeless and homeless children, orphans, hundreds of millions of poor people doomed in different countries to vegetate, hunger and suffering through the fault of totalitarian and ignorant ruling forces and because of the archaic traditions of lack of freedom and humility - all of them found themselves not in able or were deprived of the opportunity to realize their life potential.

But in any case, life itself cannot but be a value. It becomes a burden or even unbearable not because of its own essence, but only insofar as it is permeated, clothed with the negative of the inhumane in a person or that existing outside of a human being that oppresses him, undermines, deprives him of strength.

If by human life we ​​understand not only its biological side, but also its psychic and intellectual side (and only such integrity can be called human life), then it is easy to imagine how wide the range of intrusion of the anti-human into us, into our own life.

When for some reason a reliable barrier is not installed on the path of this invasion, when the inhumane is not opposed by the humane, the process of life begins to acquire a negative meaning, becomes inhuman and destructive for the person himself, and for society, and for the environment.

The worst thing that can happen to a person is the victory of the inhuman in him. His final victory means spiritual degradation and death, stimulating, one way or another, physical degradation and death. No villain is truly happy, and the life expectancy of hardened criminals is far below the average life expectancy.

Life has not only internal enemies in the person of the person himself, but also external enemies, existing outside the personality and society. Especially obvious are the dangers that threaten life as a biological process: diseases, natural disasters, unhealthy habitats. Although in many ways these enemies can be socially determined, and either stimulated by social factors, or weakened, and some of them defeated by social measures, the very nature of these threats is associated with physical, general biological or environmental laws. In this context, the question arises about the component of our life that is connected with our flesh and its value.

The value of our body is not only biological, physical and aesthetic. It is actually vital, existential, because it is fundamentally connected with our existence as life.

Health is a general condition for a favorable and fruitful life, and the most important value, therefore. There are several simple humanistic rules for a person's attitude to his physical and mental health. It's actually very simple, all you need is:

  • - Healthy food;
  • - daily exercise;
  • - avoid unnecessary stress;
  • - to be able to relax and rest;
  • - be reasonable and moderate in receiving pleasures.

Health is not just physical or mental. In principle, it is indivisible and refers to a person as a unity of the physical, biological, mental, moral, intellectual and worldview.

When we talk about the human body as a value, we must answer the question about the disabled. Unfortunately, in the modern language there is no concept that is adequate to modern culture, referring to chronically ill people or a person who has not been born or has lost, say, sight or a hand during his lifetime. All existing concepts: “disabled person”, “person with limited physical abilities” and the like are insulting to some extent, hurt the dignity of such people.

Are such people fundamentally flawed and obviously deprived of the possibility of happiness, a rich, fruitful, worthy and perfect life? Humanism answers this question in the negative. Not a single sacred or scientific book says that a person can be complete only if everything is in order with his flesh: four limbs, ten fingers, two eyes, ears and two nostrils, if he has nine natural openings in the body , the whole set of properly functioning internal organs and a standard physique.

History and modernity give us a lot of examples of a person's victory over his ailments, overcoming physical shortcomings. A person is arranged so wisely and highly adaptive, possesses such remarkable qualities as courage, purposefulness, perseverance, that he is able to turn even severe ailments or, say, blindness into a step for improvement, an additional motive for maintaining a highly moral, humane, sometimes heroic lifestyle. An illness can induce a person not only to overcome it, but also to ascend, to strengthen the will to live.

In today's civilized societies, much is being done to remove the physical, psychological and legal barriers that discriminate against or make life difficult for people with disabilities. The range of such actions is very wide: from the arrangement of special slopes in houses and on the streets to the organization of sports competitions for the disabled and the maximum reduction in the list of professions prohibited for the disabled.

Society should strive to reasonably erase the distinctions between the disabled and other people, to ensure that there is no need for privileges, which, unfortunately, are too reminiscent of alms and are offensive to a person.

I would like to separately express my opinion on this topic. In my opinion, this problem, namely, the problem is relevant in our time. Many people do not think about their lives, treat it carelessly, scatter their health and strength. A person thinks that he is omnipotent, and he can do everything, and of course, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we do not have time to ask these questions. But for every person, I am sure, there comes a moment when questions of the value of human life require an indispensable answer. Unfortunately, it happens that this moment comes too late to be able to change something. Sometimes a person only in the face of death realizes that he lived wrong, that he lost something that you can’t return. So how can you understand and understand, first of all, for yourself, what is valuable to you and what matters to you. Of course, this is a difficult question, but it seems to me that each person should determine this for himself. For some, value is countless wealth and benefits, a huge amount of money, someone dreams of being popular and talented, someone dreams of everyone around being happy, and for someone, the value lies in the health of loved ones and relatives. Each person has his own range of values, and he is absolutely in the right to decide for himself what to value.

But unfortunately, a person often chooses the wrong values ​​that could successfully and beneficially affect a person’s life and health. Often people get confused in themselves, cross the line of inhumanity and inhumanity, and this, in turn, entails serious consequences, such as: various social conflicts, crimes, immoral behavior, harm to health to themselves and others. This list could go on and on.

A person drives himself into a dead end, leaving no choice to change something, Moreover, the realization that your life has been lived in empty comes very late and the person is not able to change anything. Of course, there are a huge number of reasons why a person chooses his values, but I would like to note that only the Man himself is the master of his life. And life is a flower. If you stop looking after him, watering, fertilizing, taking care of him, then he will wither.

So it is with a person. If you thoughtlessly and carelessly treat yourself, waste time, health and strength, then in the end, life, like a ruthless flower, will die out.

Therefore, appreciate yourself and those around you, appreciate every moment, every second, be able to find a piece of good in the bad, because life is given to us only once! philosophical life anti-humanistic

Phrases of famous people about the value of life:

  • - I realized that life is worth nothing, but I also realized that nothing is worth living (André Malraux);
  • - If you value your life, remember that others value theirs no less (Euripides);
  • - The life of an individual person has meaning only to the extent that it helps to make the lives of other people more beautiful and nobler. Life is sacred, it is, so to speak, the supreme value to which all other values ​​\u200b\u200bare subordinate (Einstein Albert);
  • - Truly, he who does not value life does not deserve it (Leonardo da Vinci).

Human values ​​are an extremely topical issue. We all know them well. But hardly anyone tried to define them clearly for themselves. Our article is devoted to just this: the awareness of modern values.

Definition

Value is something that a person consciously or unconsciously reaches for, which meets his needs. Of course, people are all different, which means that human values ​​are also purely individual, but one way or another there are common moral guidelines: goodness, beauty, truth, happiness.

Positive and negative values ​​of modern man

It is clear to everyone that it is normal to strive for happiness (eudemonism) or for pleasure (hedonism). Now it is even more clear than, for example, 100 or 200 years ago. Despite the fact that office workers certainly get tired at work, life has now become much easier than it was for our grandparents. Russia is still shaken by various crises, but after all, these are not wars, not besieged Leningrad and other horrors that the crazy 20th century has awarded history.

Our contemporary may well say, looking back at history: "I'm tired of suffering, I want to enjoy." Of course, here he does not mean himself, but man as a generic entity, embodied in various bodily shells from ancient times to the present day.

Therefore, the actual reality, perhaps more than all other historical realities, sets him up to pursue happiness and pleasure (the positive values ​​of a person) and escape from suffering and pain (the negative constants of his being). We have the joy (albeit of a very dubious quality) to watch how the classical ethical triad of "goodness, beauty, truth" gives way to such landmarks of human existence as money, success, happiness, pleasure. They are difficult to assemble into some kind of design, but if you try, then happiness and pleasure will definitely be at the top, money at the bottom, and everything else in between.

The time has come to talk about such a concept as a “human value system”.

religious values

It is clear to sane people that the world is capitalist, i.e. one where everything or almost everything is decided by money is not eternal and not unique, and the order of values ​​that is offered to them is not universal. Also, it is almost self-evident that the natural opposition is the religious interpretation of reality, which is subject to moral and spiritual laws. By the way, the eternal duality of being between its spiritual and material aspects does not allow a person to lose his humanistic essence. That is why the spiritual values ​​of a person are so important for his moral self-preservation.

Christ as the initiator of a spiritual upheaval

Why was Christ a revolutionary? He did a lot to earn such an honorary title, but the main thing in the context of our article is that he said: "The last will be the first, and the first will be the last."

Thus, he overturned the entire structure that is called the “human value system”. Before him (as now) it was believed that wealth, fame and other charms of a life without spirituality are precisely the highest goals of human existence. And the Messiah came and said to wealthy people: "It is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven." And they thought that they had already bought everything for themselves, but no.

Jesus grieved them, and the poor, the unfortunate and the disadvantaged had some hope. Some of the readers who do not believe too much in paradise will say: “But can the goodness promised after death atone for the existing suffering in the earthly existence of a person?” Dear reader, we completely agree with you. Future happiness is little consolation, but Christ gave hope to the losers of this world and charged them with strength to fight against his unenviable fate. In other words, the values ​​of a person, the values ​​of the individual have become different and have gained variability.

vertical world

In addition, Christianity made the world vertical, i.e. all earthly values ​​are henceforth recognized as base and unimportant. The main thing is spiritual self-improvement and unity with God. Of course, a person will still pay harshly for his spiritual aspirations in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, but still, the feat of Jesus is extremely significant even outside a religious context, because the prophet showed, by sacrificing his life, that other values ​​​​are possible in a person’s life, that fit harmoniously into the system.

Variations in value systems

From the previous section, it became clear that the system of human aspirations can be completely different. It all depends on what the individual or group is oriented towards. There is, for example, a sociological approach to this issue: the vertical of the significant is built from the highest to the lowest in accordance with the interests of the collective. The latter can mean both individual groups and society as a whole. And we know those periods when some nations put the collective above the individual. This argument will fit perfectly with the topic "Values ​​of the individual and society."

Individualization

The individualized world has its own priorities and its own understanding of higher and lower. We can observe them in our contemporary reality: material well-being, personal happiness, more pleasure and less suffering. Obviously, this is a rough sketch of significant human landmarks, but one way or another, each of us falls into this picture. There are not enough ascetics now.

Formal and real values

If someone asks what role values ​​play in a person's life, then this question is difficult to answer. It is one thing what a person says, and another thing what he does, i.e. the difference between its formal and real semantic priorities. For example, in Russia, many consider themselves believers. Temples are being built. Soon every courtyard will have its own temple, so that pious people do not have to go far. But this is of little use, because, as the bishop from the third part of the movie saga "The Godfather" says to the main character of the film: "Christianity has been surrounding a person for 2,000 years, but it has not penetrated inside." In fact, most people perceive religious institutions as conditional, and they are not particularly interested in the problem of sin. It is also strange that, thinking about God, believers completely forget about their neighbors; the social values ​​of a person are in a certain sense in the paddock. Naturally, in such a situation it is difficult to speak of true faith.

Pitirim Sorokin and his valuable periodization of cultures

The well-known sociologist and public figure P. Sorokin based his typology of cultures on nothing other than values. He quite rightly believed that every culture has its own face, its own individuality, which stems from a guiding principle or idea. The scientist divided all cultures into three types.

  1. Idiational - when religious beliefs prevail over material goods and such a dominant attitude determines the values ​​and norms of a person and culture as a whole. This is reflected in architecture, philosophy, literature, social ideals. For example, during the European Middle Ages, a saint, a hermit or an ascetic was considered the canon of a person.
  2. Sensual type of culture. The most striking example is, of course, the Renaissance. Religious values ​​are not only trampled, they are actually canceled. God begins to be perceived as a source of pleasure. Man becomes the measure of all things. Infringed in the Middle Ages, sensuality wants to reveal and manifest itself to the fullest extent of its capabilities. From this arise the famous moral conflicts of the Renaissance, when a significant cultural upsurge is adjacent to a fantastic moral decline.
  3. Idealistic or mixed type. In this model of culture, the material and spiritual ideals and aspirations of a person find agreement, but the primacy of the latter over the former is affirmed. Focusing on high moral ideals helps a person to live the smallest in the material sense and believe in spiritual self-improvement.

In this construction of P. Sorokin there are no extremes of the two previous types, but there is also one significant drawback: it is impossible to find a real example of such a culture. One can only say that this is how people live who have fallen into extremely difficult life circumstances (illness, poverty, natural disasters, poor neighborhoods of countries around the world). The poor and the handicapped voluntarily have to minimize bodily needs and keep a high moral ideal before their eyes. For them, this is an indispensable condition for survival and existence within a certain moral framework.

This is how the article turned out, the focus of which was the cultural values ​​of a person. We hope that it will help the reader to understand this difficult and at the same time extremely interesting topic.

Personal values ​​are a reflection of our needs, desires, and all that we especially value in life. Values ​​are a huge driving force that can be seen as the guide by which we create our essence. Determining your values ​​will help you figure out what to strive for and what to avoid. This will allow you to navigate through life with a strong inner compass. And finally, in the most difficult situations, personal values ​​can serve as a reminder of what you really value. Thus, identifying them will help you stay true to yourself in any circumstance.

Steps

Tracking Emerging Values

    Clear space for "your" time. Since defining your personal values ​​requires so-called soul-searching, make your own space for it. Turn off your phone, listen to soothing music, or do something that helps you relax and focus on the present.

    Write down the moments of your greatest happiness and deepest sadness. Remember all your ups and downs, while highlighting the details and feelings associated with each memory. List only things that have had the greatest impact on your life and how you feel, not things that have earned you praise or recognition from others.

    • For example, you might remember the night you met your best friend. This may not have been the greatest achievement of your life, but on that day you may have learned a lot about your personality and how to start making friends and sharing experiences with other people.
    • Identify the themes that run through your most vivid memories, good and bad. They may also be backed up by your spiritual or political passions. Chances are you will identify several things that make you feel unfair, sad, angry, or all of the above. Try to do the same with happy moments.
  1. Consider the common values ​​of humanity. We all have relatively similar, very basic needs that come from the constitutions and evolution of human culture. The things we value ultimately stem from our needs - that's why we're so passionate about and committed to our values! Studying human needs will give you a powerful boost to understanding your own values. More or less universal needs include:

    • Physical well-being (food, rest, safety)
    • Autonomy (freedom of choice, self-expression)
    • Peace (hope, tranquility)
    • Feelings (praise, participation, understanding)
    • Communication (warmth, respect, attention)
    • Entertainment (adventure, humor, joy)
  2. Sketch out an initial list of personal values. Include in it the items you cannot imagine your life without. In it, you can connect personal experience with your culture of values, as well as universal human needs.

  3. Record how you select these values. They may vary depending on the strategy you have used. Often the strategy comes from the religion of the family in which you grew up. By knowing this, you will have a better understanding of the values ​​that allow you to do things that you can be proud of.

    • For example, you have a value - a high position in society. But how will you follow it - will you wear designer clothes or become a human rights activist? If you value a deep sense of peace and order, would you set up a homemade essential oil factory in your home? Or maybe you are used to resolving conflicts that arise in your family? See the connection between values ​​and your daily life.

Checking and balancing personal values

  1. Determine what drives you in life. One way to test your values ​​is to spend a whole day observing and identifying what drives you through life. If you have a certain primary value, and you find yourself in a situation in which it is threatened, you will feel anxious, defenseless, or even angry. What you hear or see on the news can also change the course of your life.

    • For example, your boss might tell you that your knit vest is not the most appropriate work outfit. Instead of just being a little upset, you might feel angry or even annoyed. In this case, you can say that your values ​​are making your own decisions and autonomy.
  2. Take a look at decisions that are influenced by your values. This can be done using both real and fictional situations. For example, you value independence and are considering moving in with a new roommate. What will you do if you consider your value? If you value peace and spontaneity, but your work takes 70 hours a week from you, how can you avoid stress and internal conflict? In situations like this, understanding your values ​​can really help you make creative decisions that reflect your own self.

    • Keep in mind that you will only see your value most clearly when you make a real decision. Sometimes we're so enamored with a certain value that we think it's bound to trigger the best decisions (although it doesn't have to be).
  3. Decide how you will defend it. If you're in a difficult situation and you're having a hard time standing up for your value, consider whether or not to speak up. Are you unable to live up to your worth because everything in the world is changing? What value is at stake, and why?

    • Let's say you're in a relationship with someone who doesn't appreciate your work, and you've made it your goal to get recognition for your efforts. Can this problem be solved by talking? Will you enjoy it if your partner starts expressing gratitude to you?
    • Another way to check is the following. Speak up about an issue in front of the community. Perhaps you are worried about cuts in public school funding - would you like to know more about it, or have you been hurt by it in some way? Depending on the answer, your value can be either caring for future generations or a call to action.
    • If you look at your list of values ​​and connect those that could potentially conflict, you will gain an understanding of what creates creative tension in your life.
      • For example, you can value having your own space and at the same time support relationships unconditionally. In this case, you need to organize your communication with family and friends in such a way that you have time for yourself, but at the same time you should not forget about loved ones. Balancing between these potentially conflicting values ​​can be tricky, but being aware of this issue will help you make more informed decisions.
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