I'm enjoying reading these Matt! This is a huge problem/challenge/opportunity so I'm glad you're thinking and sharing so much about it. I don't think enough people are, as you mention. I'm hopeful because I think deep down many have positive, 'good' values. I'm concerned that many often act in a way, self included, that don't reflect positive values. And then I believe some are driven by values that are not moving us in a good direction. How we let these positive values that will benefit us as a whole be the 'stars' that guide us is a big challenge. Hopeful!
Yep, nothing about this will be straightforward, except perhaps that we must put energy toward all of the issues you raise. For one: getting clear on what are values anyway? Is there any such thing as stand alone independent isolated values? If so that would break everything we understand so far about reality. Ie everything is connected. Attach context and purpose to any given value or constellation of values and meaning can shift radically. Is there any "thing" (lets' say a beach bucket, the kind that we use to dig holes and bury kids with) that we would attach only one value to? I have a hard time thinking of any. If there are, is it possible that all others would have the same relationship with that "thing" and attach only that single value? I can love beach buckets when building the sand castle but I can hate plastic beach buckets that are cracking and just cut my hand when I was just trying to have a lazy play day.
I'm enjoying reading these Matt! This is a huge problem/challenge/opportunity so I'm glad you're thinking and sharing so much about it. I don't think enough people are, as you mention. I'm hopeful because I think deep down many have positive, 'good' values. I'm concerned that many often act in a way, self included, that don't reflect positive values. And then I believe some are driven by values that are not moving us in a good direction. How we let these positive values that will benefit us as a whole be the 'stars' that guide us is a big challenge. Hopeful!
Yep, nothing about this will be straightforward, except perhaps that we must put energy toward all of the issues you raise. For one: getting clear on what are values anyway? Is there any such thing as stand alone independent isolated values? If so that would break everything we understand so far about reality. Ie everything is connected. Attach context and purpose to any given value or constellation of values and meaning can shift radically. Is there any "thing" (lets' say a beach bucket, the kind that we use to dig holes and bury kids with) that we would attach only one value to? I have a hard time thinking of any. If there are, is it possible that all others would have the same relationship with that "thing" and attach only that single value? I can love beach buckets when building the sand castle but I can hate plastic beach buckets that are cracking and just cut my hand when I was just trying to have a lazy play day.