This document discusses different perspectives on human values. It outlines values according to Indian philosophy as dharma, artha, kama, and moksha. Western philosophy emphasizes truth, beauty, goodness, and self-realization. The Constitution of India promotes democratic, socialist, and secular values like justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. Modern classifications include primary values, pleasure values, aesthetic values, and spiritual values. Human values are seen as desirable standards that guide behavior and include traits like truthfulness, compassion, and sacrifice.

1. CONCEPT OF HUMAN
VALUES

2. Initially used in economics- Measure of Benefit.
Anything that satisfies a human need becomes a thing of value.
Social approval was lacking.
So modified to: Anything which is socially desired and leads to
satisfaction of human need becomes a thing of value.
So, two components:
◦ Satisfaction
◦ Desirability
Philosophers defined it as “beliefs shared by the members of a
culture regarding what is good or bad, acceptable or non
acceptable. Values govern human behavior or action.”
CONCEPT OF VALUE

3. “Purushartha” are the values which human beings
should seek. These are (in hierarchical order):
◦ Artha: Economic value or wealth
◦ Kama: Pleasure
◦ Dharma: Righteousness and morality
◦ Moksha (Param Purushartha) : Spiritual freedom and self
perfection. Liberation from the web of Maya or freedom from
cycle of birth and death.
Indian Philosophy
Secular (present in all
cultures) and lower
category values.
In absence of Dharma, Artha and Kama are not good. Dharma in progression
leads to Moksha.

5. Universal values:
◦ Truth
◦ Beauty
◦ Goodness
◦ Self realization (Highest Value)
Western Philosophy

6. “Value is defined as a set of principles whereby
conduct is directed and regulated as a guide for
individuals and a social group.”
International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences (1972)
Definition of values

7. Instrumental values Vs. Intrinsic Values
◦ Instrumental values: Lead to achievement of ultimate goal of
life. E.g. Artha and Dharma.
◦ Intrinsic Values: End in itself. Instrumental values lead to
achievement of intrinsic values. E.g. Artha leads to Kama and
Dharma leads to Moksha
Types of values

8. Indian traditional value classification
◦ Artha
◦ Kama
◦ Dharma
◦ Moksha
Types of Values

9. Values according to constitution of India
“WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to
constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:
JUSTICE, social, economic and political;
LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;
EQUALITY of status and opportunity;
And to promote among them all
FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity
and integrity of the Nation;
IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty sixth day of
November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE
TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.”
Types of Values

11. According to Constitution
◦ Democratic Values: Freedom of thought, expression and belief;
equality and dignity of individuals, ensuring justice.
◦ Socialistic Values: Equality of status and opportunity,
equitable distribution of wealth.
◦ Secular Values: Respect for all religions, freedom of faith and
worship.
Types of Values

12. Modern classification of values:
◦ Primary values or Organic Values: Basic values, self nourishment.
E.g. good food, drink and clothes.
◦ Pleasure values of Hedonistic values: Desire for pleasure and
avoiding pains.
◦ Aesthetic Values: Recognizing beauty of nature and appreciating
things which give joy of beauty. E.g. Fine arts, dance, music, poetry
etc.
◦ Economic values: Desire for money and materialism.
◦ Personal values: Values a person desire for his own. E.g. possession
recreation, quest etc.
◦ Family values: Traditional values including faith, occupation,
characteristics of caste and behavior in accordance to the family
status.
Types of Values

13. ◦ Social values: Desired together by a social group.
◦ Power values: Desire of an individual to rule over others or lead
others.
◦ Intellectual values: Love for knowledge, zest to discover and
inclination toward truth.
◦ Religious values: One’s faith in God, offering prayers, charity and
obeying ethical codes of a religion.
◦ Moral values: What is socially right or wrong. Dharma talks about
this. Moral values of Indian culture are depicted in:
● Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram
● Vasudhev Kutumbakam
◦ Spiritual values: Ultimate value of human life. For this one need to
get detached. It inspire us and makes us free from all selfish actions.
Types of Values

14. Traditional Vs Modern Values
Traditional value Corresponding Modern Values
Artha ∙ Economic Values
Kama ∙ Primary or Organic Values
∙ Hedonic or Pleasure Values
∙ Aesthetic Values
∙ Recreational Values
Dharma ∙ Moral Values
∙ Personal Values
∙ Social Values
∙ Intellectual Values
Moksha ∙ Spiritual Values
Comparison done by Kar (1996)

15. Gawande classification of values
◦ Human values: Core values and all other are built around these
values.
◦ National or Constitutional values
◦ Social values: E.g. values of Indian culture are respect and love
for others, brotherhood, self sacrifice and self realization.
◦ Vocational or professional values
◦ Religious values
◦ Aesthetic values
Types of Values

16. Universal in nature
Shared by all human beings irrespective of their culture, religion
or nationality
What we expect from others and what we aim to give to others
Human values are unique to every individual
Everyone does not give equal importance to all elements of life
Related to human behavior
These are developed through socialization, individual experiences
and identification with significant others.
Concept of Human Values

17. Human values are core conceptions of the ‘desirable’
within every individual and society. They serve as
standards or criteria to guide not only action but also
judgment, choice, attitude, evaluation, argument,
rationalization and attribution of causality (Cause and
effect relations).”
M. Rokeach (Social Psychologist)
Definition

18. Dr. Gawande (1994) found seven human values:
◦ Truthfulness
◦ Constructivity (positive or good purpose)
◦ Sacrifice
◦ Sincerity
◦ Self control
◦ Altruism (well being and happiness for all)
◦ Scientific vision
Composition of Human Values

19. NCERT (National Council for Educational Research
and Training): Suggested 84 human values.
Composition of Human Values

20. 1. Abstinence 31. Honesty 61. Self-help
2. Appreciation of cultural values of others 32. Helpfulness 62. Self –respect
3. Anti-untouchability 33. Humanism 63. Self confidence
4. Citizenship 34. Hygienic living 64. Self support
5. Consideration for others 35. Initiative 65. Self study
6. Concern for others 36. Integrity 66. Self reliance
7. Co-operation 37. Justice 67. Self control
8. Cleanliness 38. Kindness 68. Self restraint
9. Compassion 39. Kindness to animals 69. Social service
10. Common cause 40. Loyalty to duty 70. solidarity of mankind
11. Common good 41. Leadership 71. Sense of social responsibility
12. Courage 42. National unity 72. Sense of discrimination between good
and bad
13. Courtesy 43. National consciousness 73. Socialism
14. Curiosity 44. Non-violence 74. Sympathy
15. Democratic decision making 45. National integration 75. Secularism and respect for all religions
16. Devotion 46. Obedience 76. Simple Living
17. Dignity of the individual 47. Peace 77. Spirit of enquiry
18. Dignity of manual work 48. Proper utilization of time 78. Team work
19. Duty 49. Punctuality 79. Team Spirit
20. Discipline 50. Patriotism 80. Truthfulness
21. Endurance 51. Purity 81. Tolerance
22. Equality 52. Quest for knowledge 82. Universal truth
23. Friendship 53. Resourcefulness 83. Universal love
24. Faithfulness 54. Regularity 84. Value for national and civic property
25. Fellow-feeling 55. Respect for others
26. Freedom 56. Reverence for old age
27. Forward look 57. Sincerity
28. Good manners 58. Simple living
1. Gentlemanliness 59. Social justice
1. Gratitude 60. Self-discipline

21. Schwartz (1994) identified 10 universal human values:
◦ Achievement
◦ Benevolence (honesty, loyalty, helpfulness, welfare of people)
◦ Conformity
◦ Hedonism (enjoying life, pleasure for oneself)
◦ Power
◦ Security
◦ Self direction
◦ Stimulation (excitement and adventure in life, accepting challenges,
variety and novelty in life)
◦ Tradition (customs and traditions of religion, devotion and self
control)
◦ Universalism ( understanding and protecting all people and nature,
broad mindedness, equality, peace, justice, harmony and unity at
world level)
Composition of Human values

22. Conflict and similarity between these 10 values has
summarized these into two dimensions:
◦ Self Enhancement Vs Self Transcendence
● Achievement and power comes under self enhancement (self
interest)
● Universalism and benevolence comes under self transcendence
(social welfare)
◦ Openness to Change Vs Conservation
● Self direction and stimulations comes under openness to change
(independent thinking, readiness for change)
● Conformity, tradition and security comes under conservation
(order, self control and resistance to change)
* Hedonism has characteristics of both self enhancement and
openness to change.

24. We can say a human behavior as per human values, if
that behavior is having following characteristics:
◦ Expected behavior
◦ Responsible for individual progress
◦ Conducive to society and nation
◦ Accepted at international level
Human Behavior