Values are a very personal and early acquisition. We, as a people, very rarely question our own, deep, values precisely because they are the very foundation of who we are. It is a difficult question to even imagine, let alone ask, seriously analyze, and even, if I could be so preposterous, change. We see all the time how our own values are different or in direct opposition to the other people's we meet. It is more obvious from different cultures, yes, but no two people have exactly the same values. We can even take that statement for granted, because it is so obviously true.
Yet we never approach the idea of knowing or changing our values in any real way. In fact, if I let myself be a little conspiracy theoristic, I'd even say the way our society is built is precisely so that our core values are never touched upon in any kind of interaction. The results of our values, yes, and many heated arguments are had, but when it comes to the values that make up our very lifestyles and world views we rarely speak or even think of them.
I have tried to live my life in such a way that I take nothing for granted and even reason out the very nature of all my thoughts and actions, but even with this natural tendency I take my central-most values for granted as truths that should not, cannot, be considered or questioned.
That is, in a lovely and terribly paradox, the exact opposite of what my core values are - namely to take nothing for granted and reason out the very nature of my thoughts and actions. The question then becomes - why do I value what I do? my values are very fundamental. Learning, knowledge, and understanding is innately valuable. Morals are innately valuable. Thinking, logic, analysis, is innately valuable. Autonomy and happiness is innately valuable. Newness and differences are innately valuable. There are sets of values which are fundamental to the universe itself. Things that are permanent are valuable. Money, fame, temporary things, nonsense, immoral behavior, unoriginality and unhappiness are all things that are not valuable. I cannot even conceive of these things having innate value past them indirectly contributing to the things that I think do.
Why?
Why do I take these things for granted? How can I imagine something different when they seem to form the very basis, or at least be very close to the very basis of most of my thought. And how can I claim that these thoughts are any more valid than taking for granted that any random, fantastic thought, must be true. In short - where do I find or validate my most core thoughts, truths, beliefs, values, and morals? How can I even begin to evaluate them. Particularly since they are the tools I use for evaluation. How can I validate that logic is logical using logic? How can I say that happiness is good when good is perhaps defined by happiness? Or, in my case, that learning is good when good is defined by knowledge? (admittedly the idea is constructed in a more complex way, but ultimately, that is what I fundamentally believe and fundamentally cannot seem to find a way of thinking something else more true, or anything else true really)
Why do I know knowledge is better than ignorance? Really, why?
I can't claim to know it then. So why do I believe it? I guess because it makes me happier and it makes the world seem a stabler place which also makes me happier. But I don't value happiness, so it isn't quite just that. I value understanding. Not my own, but all understanding. I also value the way the understanding is acquired. And I have a specific value of how my values are balanced against one another. I was taught and born with this perception. And it would seem I am stuck with it until I find a way to compare it using someone else's method or discover my own.
How can you modify your own core thoughts, beliefs, values, morals, being?
I don't know, but I know it is part of my core thoughts beliefs, values, moral and being that I think/believe/value that humankind is nearly miraculous in it's ability to modify it's own thoughts beliefs values morals and beings. For better, or for worse.
