What do people yearn for today?

[thinkdr]

I’d really like to read your comments on this new approach to the ethical life.

I am not claiming they are conscious of it, yet today people are hungry ... but they don't know what they are hungry for. However, when they see it, they want it! When they learn about continuous value creation, they know they want it. [Recall that there was no particular market for the ipad before it came out, but once it did, there turned out to be a strong demand for it. I am in what follows suggesting an analogy to this... only in the realm of ideas.]

Some of us want to change the world for the better. We pioneers are looking for people who are early-responders, trend-setters, the first to try a new technology. We praise them for being among those few who are the first to take a look at something new -- in this case, the axiogenic perspective. For once they know how plausible and sensible it is, they begin planting seeds - like a farmer who nourishes an entire village.

I speak of "seeds." These ideas are seeds. They are kindling and sparks that start a big fire. These ideas - these sparks - may lead us to keep asking ourselves the Central Question of Life, and ask others to do the same. [See the recent book, ANSWERING THE CENTRAL QUESTION by Demerest & Schoof, (2011)]. What is the Central Question? It is: How can I create value, here and now? For life is about creating value. . Let's work for this to be the commonsense norm, the prevailing ethos.

Now, today, the commonsense norm is: "Life is all about ME How can I get what I want?" It's a win/lose mentality. It's about ruthless rivalry. That's the prevailing perspective. But it's out of whack.

Here's why. Life isn't about me winning and you losing. It's about us maximizing value (or at least increasing it.) {Net value - for all concerned - ought to be continually improved, wouldn't you agree? Value, and the Universe, is infinite in its potential. Let's go on the assumption that we can extend its outward horizons.}

In an imperfect world there are limits; you will concur, won't you, that this world isn't yet perfect. However, the better we can make the world, the more we remove the limits ....or at least extend them outward.

The ideal -- as many who post here have written -- is balance, harmony, and clarity. If one overvalues things or systems, then one is doing it at the expense of other factors and qualities which are pushed aside. Our internal life is then out of balance. Systems (as well as theories, hypotheses, philosophical ideologies) are wonderful in their place. But if a focus on them results in dis-valuing people then one's life is full of needless stress. It will wear a person down and have other unwanted consequences. There is a price to pay for distorted thought processes. [Research has shown that some people are so preoccupied with rules, and with authority, that they 'step' on people.]

Those who believe, with all sincerity, that the universe is a remarkably harmonious system tend to be at peace with themselves. They have a serenity that others don't have. But those who overvalue that thought, rank it too high in their personal value pattern (their self-image), they are NOT at peace. They have a high need for it, but haven't a clue as to how to have it. They may be passionate and focused on many other aspects of life, but serene they are not.

As you know, thought processes may lead to behavior, but they are not behavior. Those who have tension - due to a habit of overvaluing or undervaluing - tend to develop compensating behaviors ...as research studies show: Due to frustration and anger, instead of "biting your head off", many individuals will bite their tongue - literally! That's behavior.

Yes, now and then our amygdala in our brain, lights up, it gets stimulated; some events (when interpreted) trigger it off. (The brain at that point seems to be hijacking our quest for morality, our striving to be a good person, to be ethical.) Then we show frustration. We are quick to anger. It happens. But if, at that moment, we ask ourselves a Centering Question [which Schoof & Demerest talk about in their work], the frustration tends to rapidly dissolve ! These new tools are now available. It is a new technology,, an ethical technology, applied Ethics at its best. You will learn even more about all this by reviewing this thread, and studying its content: http://www.ilovephilosophy.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=179293

Maybe enough has been said to provoke further discussion.

What do you think? Do you like the new moral technology presented here?

[James S Saint]

How can I create value, here and now? For life is about creating value. .

Remove anxiety.

[Doubledip]

Hi thinkdr,

Yes I agree I think there is a underlying degree of existential anxiety here. The need for value is derived from the fear of valuelessness; it is an inference riddled with anxiety and I would think it remediable through a detensifying of the stress of "possessing value".

OR

In my view there are to responses to the need for values: the removal of anxiety (and a lack of emphasis on their temporality), or the self-maximisation of values. One can either feely angst or can actively seek to conquer that angst. What do you think?

Oh, and in an attempt to answer your question: Most people I feel yearn for their lives to be easier and less demanding for effort. There is evidence for this in computers, technology and economics.

[thinkdr]

Hi thinkdr,

Yes I agree I think there is a ...need for value ...

Oh, and in an attempt to answer your question: Most people I feel yearn for their lives to be easier and less demanding for effort. There is evidence for this in computers, technology and economics.

Thanks for your support, Dobledip. Yes, we all want a higher quality of life.

Incidentally, (and apropos to my thread on "Money vs. Ethics," research has shown that money does buy happiness - up to the point where one's annual income is $75,000. Above that, money doesn't seem to make one happier.

[obe]

Hi there! Found your essay interesting and can relate. Values, values are the key, you imply to our self image. Self image is everything. We have lost sight of community (we move around too much, or even if we stay put,we don't know our neighbors) what is our self image but connected to a concept invented by the ad-men? What is that? A concept, to profit other's by adopting their values. What is the result? We either become empty shells with false values, or, we become obsessives, compensating for our selves something we will never find, because its not us. We become obsessional gamblers, users, keeping up-ers, sharp dressers, deviates, acting out ers instead of engaging in the scariest journey :inward, weird, scared of opinionated people, recluses, and finally shadows of our selves. That is the price of devaluation, and its unavoidable, we're in it together, and the end result is guilt. Guilt of avoiding Walmart, of not being one of the good boys when life was simpler, community based, with perspective and support, we walked around with confidence, that we could see our original life in-itself, being(no heideggerian pun). We could see value in a simple walk up the hill, dreaming and guiltless, with a song in our heart. We lost it, and even if they say you need not participate in inauthentic values, its easily said, but hard to do..

[Doubledip]

Hello obe,

Values, values are the key, you imply to our self image. Self image is everything. We have lost sight of community (we move around too much, or even if we stay put,we don't know our neighbors) what is our self image but connected to a concept invented by the ad-men? What is that? A concept, to profit other's by adopting their values. What is the result? We either become empty shells with false values, or, we become obsessives, compensating for our selves something we will never find, because its not us.

To what extent would you say an individual in our society has a conception of the self?

[obe]

Hello obe,

Values, values are the key, you imply to our self image. Self image is everything. We have lost sight of community (we move around too much, or even if we stay put,we don't know our neighbors) what is our self image but connected to a concept invented by the ad-men? What is that? A concept, to profit other's by adopting their values. What is the result? We either become empty shells with false values, or, we become obsessives, compensating for our selves something we will never find, because its not us.

Hello Doubledip!
To what extent would you say an individual in our society has a conception of the self?

I would hazard, to the extent to which his workable (contextual) self,vis: his social mileau affords his self representitation's validity to be expressed; (including the level of "uniqueness" to be factored into this process. In addition,he may live with degrees of attachment/detachment in his immediate environment, if he doesn't want to completely immerse himself in it. Finally the concept evolving has to be processed so as to have a continuum (gestalt) between the subject (the individual) and the object (the relational or contextual social fabric). I am sorry, I couldn't explain it in simpler terms..

[thinkdr]

To what extent would you say an individual in our society has a conception of the self?

If I may venture to answer the question you asked of obe - I would say the distribution forms a bell curve, with some highly aware of the importance of having a good character, being a responsible person, wanting to contribute to a better world in order to make a difference ...and with some on the tail end of the curve, but with most folks in the middle forming the top of the bell.

The curve may prove to be rather a flat one; research needs to be done. The doing of it would probably fall within the domain of Moral Psychology - but the day is coming when there will be little or no borders between research departments. Neurologists, ethicists, and sociologists may get in on the research project to fill out the picture.

Once a knowledge of the new science of Ethics gets around, there may actually be people who are conscious of wanting to score high in their Morality Index, or to score Excellent on the HVP (the Hartman Value Profile.) They may deliberately watch how they behave, because they know the value of having discipline in their life, and its direct impact on their health and on their managing to lead an ethical life.