Defining a Value

The term “value” has roots in the Old French valoir, meaning “be worth,” and derived from the Latin valere, meaning "to be strong, be of value." Interestingly, the word "valiant" also traces its roots back to valere. 

Core values are named as such because they represent what is most important to each of us. Living in alignment with our core values is a valiant act. It requires a clear mind, a calm body, vitality, resilience, and a commitment to stand up for what we believe. Consider a storybook knight—calm and steadfast, even in adversity. Values-aligned action imbues us with that kind of resolve, resilience, and confidence. Confidence is trust in oneself, which stems from knowing what you value. In this light, to “value” something means more than just appreciating its worth; it means making a commitment to protect and cherish what is most important to you.

But what is the difference between values, morals, beliefs, and purpose? 

Glad you asked. Values are the things most important to you or your group. Beliefs are convictions or acceptances that certain things are true. Morals are standards of right and wrong, often rooted in specific belief systems. Purpose is the “why” behind our journey in life. (Most of us are not entirely clear about our purpose, but this book will reveal how values-aligned behavior can lead to an emergent sense of purpose.) 

Interestingly, people can share a value—such as health—but hold entirely different beliefs about how to be healthy. One person might believe that healthcare and medical intervention secure health, whereas another believes in a healthy lifestyle. Beliefs and values can—and do—change, and they both drive behavior. Starting with values is powerful because by knowing what is most important to us, we can challenge limiting beliefs and reaffirm those that are aligned with our values.

Sometimes our values and behaviors align so naturally that values fade into the backdrop of our lives, unnoticed but ever-present, like a heartbeat. It is often not until a value is violated—either by our actions or those of others—that it comes into sharp focus. This is when stress, discomfort, and cognitive dissonance surge into consciousness. 

Imagine always valuing honesty, yet finding yourself in a situation where telling the truth could have significant personal or professional repercussions. Suddenly, you feel a deep and unsettling tension. This discomfort resides in the stark and painful clash between your deeply held value of honesty and the action you are considering.

In these moments—when our values are violated and we feel dissonance—we realize the critical role that values play in our lives. They are not abstract or ornamental; they are visceral and central to our sense of self. The distress we feel at these times is a form of existential alarm, alerting us to the fact that we are on the brink of betraying something fundamental to our identity and maybe even our survival.

This realization can be a profound and transformative experience if we are receptive. It invites us into a space of introspection, where we are compelled to examine the depth of our commitment to our values and the lengths we are willing to go to uphold them. It is an opportunity for realignment and for recommitting to our values, informed by the stark clarity that such moments of tension provide.

In this way, our values are not static; they are dynamic and evolving, shaped and clarified through our lived experiences. They are our silent partners in life’s journey, speaking most loudly when we risk losing our way, then guiding us back to our authentic selves and our vision for who we want to be.

The Core Values of Life and Living Things

The story of life’s origin teems with theories from various disciplines, including science, religion, and philosophy. The theory of abiogenesis posits that life emerged from simple organic compounds that eventually combined to form complex, self-replicating molecules. In contrast, the panspermia theory suggests that life was seeded from outer space, perhaps through comets or meteorites. Meanwhile, the RNA world hypothesis imagines that the earliest life forms were based on RNA molecules acting as genetic couriers and chemical catalysts.

These theories are contrasted by more spiritual perspectives. Religious doctrines offer divine or supernatural narratives for life’s creation, such as the Genesis account in the Christian Bible or the cosmic dance of creation and destruction in Hindu mythology, which is one of my favorites. (If you haven’t explored the Ramayana or Mahabharata, I suggest adding them to your reading list—these sacred texts make Lord of the Rings look rather tame in comparison.) 

Philosophically, the discourse expands further: vitalism suggests that a life force beyond physical entities exists, and panpsychism considers consciousness, however rudimentary, a universal and primordial feature of all things.

These theories, each with unique perspectives and interpretations, represent humanity’s quest to untangle the mystery of life’s origin—and meaning.

What we do know is that life, in all its complexity, is guided by a set of core values that enable organisms to survive and thrive. These values, rooted in principles of biology and evolution, are directly responsible for the miracle of our existence.

Let’s explore these core values:

Self-preservation: The innate drive for self-preservation is at the core of every living entity. This value propels an organism’s quest for essential resources, such as food and shelter, and its instinct to evade threats. This is the basic tenet for survival—an organism must protect and sustain its own life. 

Reproduction: Beyond mere survival, life is about lineage—passing genetic material to successive generations. Reproduction is vital for the continuation of species, and involves elaborate strategies, rituals, and behaviors to secure a mate and produce offspring.

Adaptation: Adaptation is a testament to life’s resilience, allowing organisms to modify themselves in response to changing environments. This continual adjustment, honed by natural selection, fuels the spectacular diversity of life on Earth.

Homeostasis: Internal equilibrium, or homeostasis, is paramount. Living organisms perpetually adjust physiological processes to maintain a stable internal environment. This delicate balance supports cellular functions and overall health.

Cooperation: Although competition is prevalent in nature, cooperation is equally important. From symbiotic relationships between species to complex social structures within animal groups, collaborative interactions are abundant and beneficial, enhancing chances of survival and reproduction.

Energy Conservation: Life is a masterful energy economist, and every organism, from single cells to complex creatures, has evolved strategies to optimize energy use. This efficiency is essential for enduring times of scarcity; in humans, it is exemplified by the storage of excess energy in fat. These reserves, housed in adipose tissue, are meticulously managed, ready to be mobilized during times when food intake is low, mirroring adaptive behaviors such as torpor or hibernation seen in other species.

These core values of living organisms are far from mere biological mechanisms; they are the guiding principles that have sculpted the behaviors and adaptations of life forms throughout the eons. By understanding these values, we gain more than knowledge; we foster a profound appreciation for the awe-inspiring diversity and resilience of life on Earth.

A Brief History of Human Values

Imagine a time when our ancestors roamed the earth, when a successful day was measured by the food gathered and the safety of the tribe. Survival wasn’t just an individual endeavor; it was a collective one. Our core values were clear: cooperation, sharing, respect for the natural world that sustained us.

Then came the agricultural revolution, and with it, a shift. Our values grew roots, much like the crops we farmed. Stability and resource accumulation became the new measures of wealth. Social structures emerged, with power dynamics that shaped our beliefs and practices. Spirituality was formalized, reinforcing these new values.

Fast-forward to the industrial age, and the landscape of values shifted once more. Efficiency, innovation, individual achievement—these became the currency of progress. Our success was no longer about what we shared, but what we owned, what we knew, and what status we achieved.

In our modern era, the definition of value is as varied as the people who walk this planet. We grapple with a mix of legacy values and contemporary challenges. Yes, we’ve made incredible strides—longer lifespans, technological marvels, a wealth of knowledge. Yet, we face epidemics of loneliness, mental health crises, and a yearning for purpose that material success alone can’t fulfill.

This is our moment of truth. It's time to ask ourselves: What are the values that truly matter to us now? Are they echoes of the past, or are they consciously chosen as guiding stars for our future? That is the purpose of this book.

The Research and Study of Values

The study of values spans ages and disciplines, touching every facet of human existence. It is a journey undertaken by prophets, philosophers, scholars, and scientists, each contributing their unique perspective to this ever-evolving narrative. I gratefully acknowledge all who have contributed to humanity’s search for meaning and fulfillment. I’m humbled to contribute in my own small way, hopefully shining a light for someone—perhaps you—who is on their own journey of discovery.

Let’s now traverse continents and eras, disciplines and cultures, from the earliest inklings of values in ancient wisdom traditions to the methodical inquiries of modern psychology and beyond. In doing so, we will draw a map that connects our past with the present, and the individual with the cosmos.

Ancient Wisdom & Early Texts: The examination of values began not with scientific research but with the narrative wisdom of early human societies. Ancient texts like the Egyptian Instruction of Amenemope, the Indian Vedas, and the Chinese Analects of Confucius are among the first recorded explorations of human values, offering moral guidance based on virtue, justice, and social harmony.

Religious Traditions: The world’s major religions, from Christianity and Islam to Buddhism and Hinduism, have been profound shapers of human values. These religious traditions provide moral codes and deeply ingrained systems of values that have shaped societies for millennia, stressing principles like compassion, piety, and justice. They represent some of the earliest systematic attempts to codify what is right and good within a community.

Philosophical Inquiry: Classical Greek philosophers, notably Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, shifted the exploration of values from the divine to the human domain of reason and debate. Ethics became a central concern for these thinkers, who sought to understand virtue and the good life through reason and dialogue. This tradition of ethical philosophy continued through the Enlightenment with philosophers such as Kant and Mill, who offered diverging views on moral duty and the greatest good.

Modern Psychology: The 20th century saw values enter the realm of science with the advent of psychology. Psychologists like Abraham Maslow, who proposed the hierarchy of human needs, and Milton Rokeach, who developed a values survey to systematically study the guiding principles in people’s lives, brought the study of values into the empirical framework of modern science. Their contributions laid the groundwork for understanding how values shape human behavior and mental health.

Cultural Anthropology and Sociology: These disciplines have expanded our understanding of values as culturally and socially constructed entities. Anthropologists like Clifford Geertz and sociologists such as Emile Durkheim have studied values as integral to the social fabric of different communities, revealing the wide variety of forms that human values can take depending on cultural context.

Contemporary Interdisciplinary Approaches: Today, the study of values is a vibrant interdisciplinary field. Behavioral economists, combining insights from psychology and economics, examine how values influence decision-making. Environmental ethicists consider the values that underlie our treatment of the natural world. Bioethicists grapple with the values involved in emerging biotechnologies, particularly in healthcare. AI ethicists study how to optimize AI's beneficial impact while reducing the risk of adverse outcomes. Space ethicists, a relatively new addition, evaluate the moral aspects of space exploration and colonization, questioning our responsibilities not just on Earth but also as we extend our reach into the cosmos. They challenge us to consider the impact of our extraterrestrial endeavors on other worlds and the universe at large, ensuring that the expansion of human activity beyond Earth is conducted with foresight and respect for cosmic environments and potential life.

As we consider this rich history of values research, what stands out is the enduring human quest for understanding the values that guide our lives. From ancient sages to modern scientists, this journey reflects our deep need to understand not just how we act but how we should act. 

Where Do Individual Values Come From?

It’s clear that culture shapes values and beliefs, but what makes our personal core values so unique? Are they the result of our genetic makeup, upbringing, life stage, or individual experiences? Let’s explore how core values emerge and crystallize in individuals.

The Genetic Influence: Behavioral genetics suggests that our temperament and personality traits are influenced by our genetic makeup. Through twin studies, researchers like Thomas Bouchard have shown that identical twins raised apart still share remarkable similarities in their attitudes and values, suggesting a genetic component.

The Neurobiological Aspect: The interplay between our prefrontal cortex, the brain's command center for decision-making and complex thought, and our limbic system, home to the amygdala and hippocampus, shapes values-based behavior. The prefrontal cortex not only governs our choices but also moderates our social behaviors and ethical reasoning, contributing to value formation. Meanwhile, the amygdala's processing of emotional responses, in concert with the hippocampus's role in forming and retrieving memories, determines the significance we place on these values. Together, they form a neurobiological network that assigns weight to our values based on past experiences and emotional learning, contextualizing our individual value systems within a broader social and environmental framework.

The Role of Early Life and Parents: Social learning theory, developed by Albert Bandura, suggests that individuals learn by observing important figures, usually parents, in their lives. The values instilled during early childhood often persist into adulthood.

Cultural Impact: Different cultures prioritize different values. Geert Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory offers insight into how culture shapes our values. For example, individualism is more valued in Western societies, whereas Eastern cultures lean toward collectivism.

Experiential Learning: Personal experiences shape our understanding of what is important. For example, Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy is based on his concentration camp experiences, which led him to value meaning and purpose above all else.

Social and Peer Influence: The need for social acceptance and belongingness, as proposed in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, can cause people to adopt the values of their peer group, even if these differ from earlier influences.

Cognitive Development: According to Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, our moral understanding evolves over time as we mature, which can lead to shifts in our values.

The Evolutionary Angle: From an evolutionary perspective, some values, like cooperation, could have conferred survival benefits, as proposed by theories like kin selection and reciprocal altruism.

The Rational Choice: Some people choose their values based on philosophical, ethical, or religious frameworks, actively and intentionally evaluating belief systems before adopting them.

The Integrated Hypothesis: Most likely, our values result from an intricate web of these influences. This integrated hypothesis allows for a more nuanced understanding of value formation, embracing the complexity of human psychology and behavior.