Max Scheler’s Hierarchy of Values

Max Scheler
(August 22, 1874-May 19, 1928)
 German philosopher known for his work in
phenomenology, ethics and philosophical
anthropology
Works
 He was the foremost exponent of Axiology.
Axiology is defined as the philosophical
science of values.

“Acts reveal the person’s value preferences.

Like a prism that reflects the invisible
spectrum of colors, a person’s acts manifest
his invisible order of values.” (Philosophy Today,
1989).

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Lets define:
Values- comes from Latin word “valere” which means to measure the worth of
something.
- These are the human principles or beliefs that are extremely valuable or
desirable
- Values are basic and fundamental beliefs that guide or motivate attitudes or
actions.

Hierarchy- is the arrangement of things/items which are presented as being “above”,

“below” or ”at the same level”

Hierarchy of Values- refers to an ordered list of social values that influence judicial
decision-making in one’s lives or society.

It determines how people perceive or what his actions well be.

Now lets move to

Max Scheler’s Hierarchy of Values
The hierarchy of value of max scheler consist of 4
First is the pleasure values > this is the primary or the lowest values,
Second is the vital values,
Third is the spiritual values and,
Lastly, the values of the holiness > this values is the highest values according to max
hierarchy.

Now lets know or understand more the hierarchy of values: first the
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Pleasure Values (Lowest)

Is an emotional value
- from its words pleasure it means satisfaction.
-Pleasure values pertain to:

 The pleasant against the unpleasant.

 The agreeable against the unagreeable.

Example:
Sensual feelings and
Experiences of pleasure or pain

Example: When you got the highest score in the class and passed the grade
in the midterm, you would feel happy about it because your effort did not turn
in vain. So, in this case, there is satisfaction on the part of the achiever. In
contrast to this, if you study well or review your notes before the examination
day but received the lowest score or failed on that subject it may cause you
disappointment or pain because you did your best but then failed.

Another example: your craving apple and mango and then you wanted to buy them
both but your money is only 10 pesos. This means you can only buy 1 fruit either the
apple or mango. Then you bought the apple. You felt happy because you can eat the
apple that you were craving. However, half of yourself felt sad at the same time
because you can’t have the mango since your money was not enough.
Vital Values

5 Types of Vital Values

The healthy
The unhealthy
The strong
The week

Characteristics of Vital Values they refer to

- Health and disease, life and death
The vital values determine the decisions that are taken in these areas. For
example, a person can have the vital value of taking care of health and having a
lifestyle of disease prevention.

- Although it refers to external aspects, it also pursues deeper emotional purposes.

For example, a person may have a preference to feel emotions related to union with
other people.

Apart from the physical, the vital values involve the mental and the environment
that surrounds the human being. That is, they influence the decisions that influence
mental life and how people react to environmental events.

-Pursues deeper emotional purposes

- Involves the mental and the environment that surrounds the human being.

#According to Scheler, vital values are obtained by linking the physical with the
mental.
Therefore, these values are beliefs and principles of action relating to how people
are in their life, how they carry their health,and how they act or how they enjoy.

While the vital involves physical well-being in order to achieve mental and spiritual
enjoyment, it should not be degraded or distorted in the process.

 Values pertaining to the well-being either of the individual or of the

community. Such as employment, health, property,family,frienship,
morality etc.
Example:
Health
Vitality

 Values of vital feeling

Example:
Capability
Excellence

Example: situation

For physical: for you to be healthy you need to rest, sleep etc.
Example again: you are studying, for you to be healthy you need to have enough
sleep, eat healthy foods, proper exercise and many more because when you are
healthy you are able to show your capabilities or to be proactive in class that will
bring you to excellence.

Spiritual Values (the values of mind)

Is A wisdom values)
 Refer to the discovery of meaning and purpose in life and demonstrating
values through behaviors.
 Values independent of the whole sphere of the body and of the
environment.
 Grasped in spiritual acts of preferring loving and hating., (also self
esteem,confidence,respect for others etc.)
 These values answer the questions: what does it mean to be human?
What does it mean to be you? What does it mean to be me?

KINDS OF SPIRITUAL VALUES

The values of beauty and ugly
The values of just and unjust
The values of pure knowledge

Example:
Aesthetic Values: beauty against ugliness
Exaple: for istances, in this time of pandemic instead of looking to the bad
side of it we should look on its positive side.

Values of right and wrong

Example: we choose to do right things such as by respecting our differences
to other people instead of treating them in a bad way because its wrong.

Values of pure knowlwdge

Values of the Holy (highest)

Refer to the sacred and hallowed beliefs, somethings which are the objects of
workship or veneration. This is the transcedent values

 Appear only in regard to objects intentionally given as “absolute

objects.”

Example:
Belief
Adoration
Bliss

Example: Because I am a roman catholic and I believe in God and his holliness,
I adore him. I am so blessed to be one of his servant and a child.
 Base on max schelers hierarchy of values, the highest are those that pertains to
the supreme being while the lowest are those that pertain to the sensual pleasure.
According to max, we act and live if we stick to his hierarchy of values such as giving
greater preferences to the higher values.

So, how came the hierarchy of scheler related to