CLASSIFICATION
OF VALUES
Values have been
classified in a number of ways.
Classification
– I: Ultimate Values
Philosophically
it can be classified based on the instinct nature of human mind. There are
mainly three kinds of values: -
1. Logical Values or Truth Values
(Satyam): ‘Knowing’ is the instinct nature of human mind. Our
mind never accepts the contradictions. Truth values or logical values are
considered ultimate values.
2. Ethical Values or Good Values
(Shivam): ‘Willing’ or ‘Desire’ and ‘Goodness’ are the instinct
nature of human mind. Our mind satisfies only when we accepts good. Our mind
never accepts the bad desires. The study related to good and bad is known as
science of ethics. Many ethical philosophers, scholars, saints have proposed
various kinds of ethical values such as truth, loyalty, helping others,
non-steeling, kindness, living together etc. Good values are also considered as
ultimate values. It is expected with individuals ought to be followed the
ethical values because it is like prescriptions which gives happiness and
creates harmony in the society.
3. Aesthetic Values or Beauty Values
(Sundaram): ‘Feeling’ is the instinct nature of human
mind. Our mind satisfies only with beauty feeling. Our mind never accepts the
ugly. The study related to beauty is known as science of Aesthetics. Aesthetic
values are also considered as ultimate values. Aesthetic values give us
pleasure and happiness. Some educationists delimit these values up to the
domain of fine arts only. Other educationists of the day hold that pleasure and
happiness may be derived from other subjects of the curriculum also besides
fine arts. It should be born in mind that aesthetic experience are vitally
composed of feelings of hearts as well as mind.
Classification
– II:
Brubacher,
in his book – ‘Modern Philosophy Education’
he has divided educational values into two categories as under: -
1. Related
to Likes or Immediate
2. Related
to Intelligent Likes or Remote
1.
Related to Likes or Immediate:
These
values fulfill the biological and psychological needs of children. Only
immediate object satisfy these values. The remote ones have no relevance. For
example – a child having an interest and liking for fine arts, shall be able to
satisfy his artistic taste by practicing artistic activities only. In short,
these values are related to immediate needs and their fulfillment to achieve
immediate self-satisfaction.
2.
Related to Intelligent Likes or Remote Values:
These
values are closely related to intelligent and rational needs. It is a matter of
common experience that each programme of school satisfies the diverse needs of
teachers and children, but of these needs, only some are important. It is also
fact that all these needs are not likely to be satisfied. Thus, each individual
has to make an intelligent advantage from all the activities of the school.
Hence, these values are related to intelligently selected likes and needs.
These values can be
divided further into two categories as under: -
1. Instrumental
Values
2. Intrinsic
Values
1.
Instrumental Values:
In
the words of Brubacher,
“Instrumental values are values that are judged good, because they are good for
something”. These values are useful in themselves and they are also
instrumental in realizing some other values. For example, if a child wants to
become a noted musician, knowledge of ‘Tal’ and ‘Swar’ will be useful to him to
realize his chief objective. This knowledge of ‘Swar’ and ‘Tal’ is an
instrumental value for some higher values. These instrumental values are
objective and change according to change in circumstances. Thus, instrumental
values are of no use in other vocations and professions.
2.
Intrinsic Values:
In other words Brubacher, “Intrinsic values are values, which are judged good, not for something else, but in and of themselves”. These values are complete in themselves and are not dependent upon anything external. For example, furniture of class is useful to the teaching process. Hence, furniture has a value in itself. It may be borne in mind that intrinsic values are not subjective but objective in nature.
In other words Brubacher, “Intrinsic values are values, which are judged good, not for something else, but in and of themselves”. These values are complete in themselves and are not dependent upon anything external. For example, furniture of class is useful to the teaching process. Hence, furniture has a value in itself. It may be borne in mind that intrinsic values are not subjective but objective in nature.
In the above line, we have
discussed the instrumental and intrinsic values with examples. Still there are
many objects which are valuable from the point of view of both the categories.
Classification
– III:
Objective
Classification of Values:
1. Physical Values: These
values are the lowest in the order of values but that does not mean that
physical values have no importance. If there are no physical values, all the
other values would become unattainable. It has been remarked that the body is
the means to achieve the religious value. In spite of this when compared to
intellectual and spiritual values, physical values are given less importance.
2. Economic Values:
Wealth and money are essential in order to satisfy one’s need in life.
Therefore, the objects which are treated as more valuable in any exchange
command a greater economic value. In this modern era economic value is
considered to be the highest value in the individual’s life.
3. Spiritual Values:
The highest spiritual value is self-realization. It includes the values of
truth, beauty and goodness. But these are regarded as useless in this mundane
life.
Classification
– IV:
We
can speak of universal values, because ever since human beings lived in
community, they have had to establish principles to guide their behavior
towards them. In this sense, honesty, responsibility, truth, solidarity,
cooperation, tolerance, respect and peace among others are considered universal
values.
However,
in order to understand them better, it is useful to classify values according
to the following criteria:
1. Personal Values: These
are considered essential principles on which we build our life and guide us to
relate with other people. They are usually a blend of family values and
social-cultural values, together with our own individual ones, according to our
experiences.
2. Family Values: These
are valued in a family and are considered either good or bad. These derive from
the fundamental beliefs of the parents, who use them to educate their children.
They are the basic principles and guidelines of our initial behavior in society
and are conveyed through our behaviors in the family from the simplest to the
most complex.
3. Social-Cultural Values: These
are the prevailing values of our society, which change with time and either
coincide or not with our family or personal values. They constitute a complex
mix of different values and at times they contradict one another or pose a
dilemma.
For example, if work isn’t valued socially as a means of personal
fulfillment, then the society is indirectly fostering ‘anti values’ like
dishonesty, irresponsibility or crime.
4. Material Values: These
values allow us to survive and are related to our basic needs as human beings,
such as food and clothing and protection from the environment. They are
fundamental needs, part of the complex web that is created between personal,
family and social-cultural values. If exaggerated, material values can be in
contradiction with spiritual values.
5. Spiritual Values: They
refer to the importance given to non-material aspects in our lives. They are
part of our human needs and allow us to feel fulfilled. They add meaning and
foundation to our life, as do religious beliefs. The spiritual values are often
attributed to God and called divine. The spiritual values include love,
compassion, justice, truth etc. It is the nature of the man to imbibe these
values irrespective of his religion, race, culture or nationality. These values
are so universal that all human beings seem to understand it without being
taught.
6. Moral Values: The
attitudes and behaviors that a society considers essential for coexistence,
order and general well being. The moral values are passed on from one
generation to another by tradition.
7. Material Values: According
to Aristotle, “Happiness is the
supreme end of human life”. But the criteria of happiness differ from one individual
to individual. Pleasure and utility is the criteria of happiness for some
western hedonistic philosophers and also for Indian Charvaka’s. But Aristotle
believed and many modern philosophers agree with him, that happiness is not so
much a value for leading a successful life. So, it cannot be accepted as an
ultimate value.
8. Democratic Value: Democratic
values such as ‘liberty’, ‘equality’, ‘fraternity’ and ‘justice’ are very
important for happy life. Self-accepted values results harmony and progress in
the democratic society.
9. Vedic Values: The
doctrine of four Purusarthas is a
comprehensive theory of human values.
The four Purusarthas are: -
i.
Dharma – Moral values such as duties,
virtues etc.
ii.
Artha – Wealth and political values.
iii.
Kama – Happiness and aesthetic joy.
iv.
Moksha – Liberation or true
self-realization.
Thus good life consists in the pursuit
of or realization of these values. The concept of Purusartha indicates values
to be realized in human life through human efforts. The term ‘Purusartha’
consists of two words viz. Purusa and Artha. ‘Purusa’ means person or self.
Thus it means a human being, man or woman. ‘Artha’ means aim or end. Hence the
term Purusartha means the aim or end of life.
10.
Human
Values: Rev. Sri Panduranga Shashtri Athawale, the
contemporary modern Indian philosopher, the founder of Global Swadhyaya
Fraternity and winner of the prestigious Magsaysay and Templeton awards
explains. A human needs at least four basic virtues, which are giving identity
for humanity. They are:
i.
Sense of gratitude (Kritajnata)
ii.
Modesty or Humility (Namrata)
iii.
Self-respect or Personal dignity
(Tejasvita)
iv.
Sense of identity, self-awareness, and
can-do-attitude (Asmita)
According to Gandhiji, the following are the
necessary human values:
i.
Dignity of manual labor
ii.
A sense of social awareness and
responsibility
iii.
Respect for other religions
iv.
Fearlessness
v.
Non-violence
vi.
Purity
vii.
Service
viii.
Peacefulness
11.
Ancient
Values: The following ancient values contained in an ancient
Indian invocation are equally relevant even today.
Sarve
bhabantu sukhinah
Sarve
santu niramay
Sarve
bhadrani pashyantu
Ma
kaschit dukha mad bhaveth
May all live happily
May all enjoy good health
May all see auspiciousness
May none experience
distress
