Philosophy 1230: Bonus Content: Values

Reasoning and Critical Thinking Three Types of Values

Three Types of Values

Bonus Content: Values
Reasoning and Critical Thinking (Philosophy 1230)
Angela Mendelovici

Values
• Values are “standards or ideals with which we
evaluate actions, people, things, or situations.”
(U01)

Kinds of values
Personal values

Moral values

Aesthetic values

1
Philosophy 1230: Bonus Content: Values
Reasoning and Critical Thinking Three Types of Values

Personal values

Personal values are values endorsed by an individual.

• E.g., career, money, self-sufficiency, family, love, pleasure.

Personal values

Personal values are values endorsed by an individual.

• Personal values can be a matter of degree.

• Personal values are relative in that they can differ from
person to person.

Personal values
and behaviour

• Our personal values can influence our behaviour.

• Examples:
• Someone who values career success might work harder
than someone who does not.
• Someone who values family over career might not be
unwilling to work long hours.

2
Philosophy 1230: Bonus Content: Values
Reasoning and Critical Thinking Three Types of Values

Conflicting values

• Our personal values might be in

conflict with each other, making it
difficult to make decisions.
• Example:
• Someone might value respecting their
parents’ wishes but also value individual
autonomy. These values might conflict if
their parents want them to do something
other than what they want to do.

Moral values

Moral values are values that determine what’s morally right or wrong.

• E.g. freedom, equality, fairness, happiness, well-being.

Moral absolutism

• Unlike personal values, moral values are

usually thought to be absolute in that
they are not relative to an individual
(though people might disagree on what
they think are moral values).
• Example: killing is wrong, not just wrong
relative to my moral views or those of my
culture.
See U05 on relativism versus absolutism about morality.

3
Philosophy 1230: Bonus Content: Values
Reasoning and Critical Thinking Three Types of Values

Aesthetic values

Aesthetic values are values associated with the evaluation of art or beauty.

• E.g. symmetry, simplicity, harmony.

10

10

Are aesthetic values

absolute or relative?
• It is a matter of debate whether aesthetic values are
relative or absolute.
• There are large disagreements concerning aesthetic
values.
• Example: Is this painting beautiful?

11

The end
Thank you!

12