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Single Idea 7671

[filed under theme 22. Metaethics / B. Value / 1. Nature of Value / d. Subjective value ]

Full Idea

Kant's fundamental sermon is that a value is made a value (or, at least, a duty) by human choice and not by some intrinsic quality in itself, out there. Values are what humans freely choose to live, fight and die for.

Gist of Idea

Values are created by human choices, and are not some intrinsic quality, out there

Source

report of Immanuel Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysic of Morals [1785]) by Isaiah Berlin - The Roots of Romanticism Ch.4

Book Ref

Berlin,Isaiah: 'The Roots of Romanticism' [Pimlico 2000], p.72

A Reaction

If this is right, then it would appear that the great Kant is the father of relativism, which wouldn't please him. However, his whole system rests on what is consistent and rational, and that seems to a value that is above our choices.

The 17 ideas with the same theme [values arising from a human perspective]:

20847 The appraiser's value is what is set by someone experienced in the facts [Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
6677 Imagination creates beauty, justice and happiness, which is the supreme good [Pascal]
4845 We don't want things because they are good; we judge things to be good because we want them [Spinoza]
9749 Our rational choices confer value, arising from the sense that we ourselves are important [Kant, by Korsgaard]
7671 Values are created by human choices, and are not some intrinsic quality, out there [Kant, by Berlin]
22023 Fichte's idea of spontaneity implied that nothing counts unless we give it status [Fichte, by Pinkard]
4181 Every good is essentially relative, for it has its essential nature only in its relation to a desiring will [Schopenhauer]
24101 We always assign values, but we may not value those values [Nietzsche]
20370 All evaluation is from some perspective, and aims at survival [Nietzsche]
20354 The ruling drives of our culture all want to be the highest court of our values [Nietzsche]
22228 Sartre's freedom is not for whimsical action, but taking responsibility for our own values [Sartre, by Daigle]
3852 If values depend on us, freedom is the foundation of all values [Sartre]
9232 It is by caring about things that we infuse the world with importance [Frankfurt]
9234 If you don't care about at least one thing, you can't find reasons to care about anything [Frankfurt]
23944 Emotions are our life force, and the source of most of our values [Solomon]
8109 Aesthetic judgements necessarily require first-hand experience, unlike moral judgements [Gardner]
24176 A person's activities have value when they receive full attention [Cochrane]