PRACTICE IN USING AXIOLOGY
This section on Axiology covers the three archetypes of valuing, namely Personal, Social, and Transcendental. Having read through this set of twelve pages (each concept covered in a single page), then try some of the following suggestions (or do similar things that will also illustrate the desired points): Take any one of the values and apply it to an issue of interest to you. The issue might occur in a media story, in a book or magazine you read, in a conversation you have, or in a presentation you attend.
In the case of Personal values, ask yourself “What do I really want from a situation, or a person, or a group, or my job, or whatever?” The first challenge is to identify how and where your principles came from. If what you want is relatively immediate (in the here and now) you may be able to locate the source of that desire quite readily. Longer-range goals or objectives may (usually will) have been acquired over more time and circumstances. Whatever your list of personal priorities, try to discern how you acquired these desires. Your needs may be basic in nature, but what you want to satisfy them has been learned – the questions are how, when, where, and why? During this process, do NOT treat your wishes and desires as sacrosanct – just as you learned to want certain things, you can unlearn, and that may be in your own best interests in some cases. This task is about the implications and consequences of what you want, and whether your desires meet the criteria of good sense and worthwhile accomplishment. Your responsibility to yourself is to look after your own best interests – and YOU are the expert here!
The Social values you adhere to are just as “real” as your personal ones – but the locus is different, namely your relationships with others. What are your rules, or criteria by which you interact with other people? There are always patterns, but many people are not conscious of the principles they follow. With different people, or in varying situations, these criteria will also change, or be given different priority – people usually behave differently with friends and family than with strangers or acquaintances. Once again, try to uncover how you behave, with whom, in which circumstances, and why? The point, again, is whether these rules of interaction are consistent, and in the best interests of yourself and others. Usually there are inconsistencies, and trade-offs between your own interests and that of others – once identified, are these outcomes the ones you expected or want? There may not be a need for precipitous action, but you may be able to figure out ways to achieve better arrangements.
Transcendental values have the curious status of being the focus of existence for some people, and of practically no concern whatsoever for others. In these circumstances, people’s views of one another regarding transcendental principles provide a good indicator of the extent of their tolerance. Which of the core transcendental principles are you consciously committed to (if any), and how did you come to acquire this “faith”? These principles may rationalize commitments for those who accept them, but for non-believers they may not provide either credibility or legitimacy. Since knowledge workers insist on their ethical autonomy, knowledge societies are increasingly learning to accommodate a diversity of transcendental principles.
After some practice with each, strive to be a reflective practitioner by applying the three ethical categories either simultaneously or concurrently as ways of assessing human actions.