Knowledge is power, and so is information. Therefore, always maintain a sceptical approach to what is offered up as knowledge and information -it's apt to be self-serving. There are no fail-safe sources. But if anyone is not aware by now that the US and West "values" are not values but cover stories, is probably also still reading Aesop fables as truth. Values are encapsulated, defined by actions, not mouthings: you are what you do, not what you say you do in theory, or would do "if only them bad guys would play fair", etc.. And according to this metric, the US and West values are - shit.
I was just having a conversation with my brother the other day about values. I said pretty much the same thing you are saying. Values are beliefs that you are willing to take action on. If your actions are not in alignment with what is coming out of your mouth, they are not really values at all but pretty words that mean nothing.
Values are a social relation, though. The pretty words are supposed to "groom" values, i.e. to brush them into alignment so that their recognition has more reach. They aren't necessarily intended as objectives to be met; unachievable ideals are especially effective at promoting action.
The late David Graeber wrote a five-volume treatise on value theory, some volumes which you might recognize as best sellers. His sum total definition of value as the importance of actions is very close to yours. Ultimately, we do social things because we think other people will recognize us for acting to realize that valued ideal. Here's the relevant chapter from _The False Coin of Our Own Dreams_, updated:
In the full book, he delves into the finer points of tokens of value, negative value, the repayment of gifts, magic, taboo, heirlooms, names as property, taxes as ritual sacrifice, and much, much more. I recommend it heartily to anyone working on the narrative plane.
Knowledge is power, and so is information. Therefore, always maintain a sceptical approach to what is offered up as knowledge and information -it's apt to be self-serving. There are no fail-safe sources. But if anyone is not aware by now that the US and West "values" are not values but cover stories, is probably also still reading Aesop fables as truth. Values are encapsulated, defined by actions, not mouthings: you are what you do, not what you say you do in theory, or would do "if only them bad guys would play fair", etc.. And according to this metric, the US and West values are - shit.
I was just having a conversation with my brother the other day about values. I said pretty much the same thing you are saying. Values are beliefs that you are willing to take action on. If your actions are not in alignment with what is coming out of your mouth, they are not really values at all but pretty words that mean nothing.
Yeah, or pretty words on a Constitution or Accord.
Values are a social relation, though. The pretty words are supposed to "groom" values, i.e. to brush them into alignment so that their recognition has more reach. They aren't necessarily intended as objectives to be met; unachievable ideals are especially effective at promoting action.
The late David Graeber wrote a five-volume treatise on value theory, some volumes which you might recognize as best sellers. His sum total definition of value as the importance of actions is very close to yours. Ultimately, we do social things because we think other people will recognize us for acting to realize that valued ideal. Here's the relevant chapter from _The False Coin of Our Own Dreams_, updated:
https://davidgraeber.org/articles/value-as-the-importance-of-actions/
In the full book, he delves into the finer points of tokens of value, negative value, the repayment of gifts, magic, taboo, heirlooms, names as property, taxes as ritual sacrifice, and much, much more. I recommend it heartily to anyone working on the narrative plane.