more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 20762

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

Full Idea

There are no values or commands to turn to which legitimize our conduct. …We are alone with no excuses.

Gist of Idea

There are no values to justify us, and no excuses

Source

Jean-Paul Sartre (Existentialism and Humanism [1945], p.296), quoted by Kevin Aho - Existentialism: an introduction 6 'Bad'

Book Ref

Aho,Kevin: 'Existentialism: an introduction' [Polity 2014], p.103


A Reaction

If there are no values or duties, why might you ever need excuses?


The 23 ideas with the same theme [what is desirability or worth in something?]:

For Aristotle 'good' means purpose, and value is real but relational [Achtenberg on Aristotle]
Prime values apply to the life in agreement; useful values apply to the natural life [Stoic school, by Diog. Laertius]
Kant focuses exclusively on human values, and neglects cultural and personal values [Kekes on Kant]
Values need a perspective, of preserving some aspect of life [Nietzsche]
Value is held to be either a quality, or a relation (usually between a thing and a mind) [Ross]
The arguments for value being an objective or a relation fail, so it appears to be a quality [Ross]
There are no values to justify us, and no excuses [Sartre]
Values don't accumulate; they are ruthlessly replaced [Cioran]
Altruistic values concern other persons, and ceremonial values concern practices [Quine]
The base for values has grounds, catalysts and intensifiers [Dancy,J, by Orsi]
There are far more values than we can pursue, so they are optional possibilities [Kekes]
We are bound to regret some values we never aspired to [Kekes]
Innumerable values arise for us, from our humanity, our culture, and our individuality [Kekes]
Cultural values are interpretations of humanity, conduct, institutions, and evaluations [Kekes]
The big value problems are evil (humanity), disenchantment (cultures), and boredom (individuals) [Kekes]
Is valuing something a matter of believing or a matter of desiring? [Smith,M]
Value-maker concepts (such as courageous or elegant) simultaneously describe and evaluate [Orsi]
The '-able' concepts (like enviable) say this thing deserves a particular response [Orsi]
Things are only valuable if something makes it valuable, and we can ask for the reason [Orsi]
A complex value is not just the sum of the values of the parts [Orsi]
Trichotomy Thesis: comparable values must be better, worse or the same [Orsi]
Final value is favoured for its own sake, and personal value for someone's sake [Orsi]
The Fitting Attitude view says values are fitting or reasonable, and values are just byproducts [Orsi]