What gave a person value or worth?

Question

I am not a believer in external agents giving value. I believe we have no intrinsic value or given value by way of a deity's sacrifice. I belive that somewhere in the crevices or folds of human history, man has asked this many times, yet the answer remains unclear.

Am I not on the right track when I say individual value is created by the individual? There is no safety in this thought and may imperil certain universal notions of human rights, but how can life be so base/simple and uniform that meaning should be one and the same for all? Why has the individually forged path become so precarious?

Answer 1

Your answer to your own question is entirely conditioned by modernity's fear of metaphysics and pre-occupation with subjectivity. Get at the root of that fear and you will discern a way in which you can conceive of an objective reality without a necessary diminishment of a subjective sense of identity and freedom. Alasdair McIntyre lays all this out quite well in his book, "Three Rival Versions of Moral Enquiry."

Answer 2

You're taking leaps of faith by dismissing both external agents and intrinsic value before you even begin.

It's one thing to come to such conclusions as a result of following a process of reasonig, it's another to simply start with them as assumptions. For all we know, there may be some intrinsic value, perhaps it's simply the potential that exists- as for deities sacrifices I haven't met any, but then again my firsthand knowledge of the universe is limited to small areas of this planet, perhaps they are busy in their workshops across the cosmos, if they exist at all. Perhaps our DNA holds the key to many mysteries, and perhaps not.

The argument could also be made that life is so base/simple/uniform simply because that's what works in this universe. Unecessary complexity which isn't adaptive simply doesn't survive and that's why we see what we see.

Is there value in pondering the question?

Answer 3

a person who holds value (positive or negative) for me is someone who affects my life in some big way that may change the course of it or influence me into change (living or dead, influence through words, music, life accomplishments, loves, influencing a change in someone around me that inspires, it doesnt matter just a general influence). Everyone in the world, who has ever lived and ever will has influenced my life in some way, whether directly or indirectly, therefore everyone has value, therefore I have value because I contribute the same. Essentially, the reason for value is memory.
The amount of value you place on yourself (yes I believe it is created by the individual subconsciously based on what value the individual needs to survive) I think is what is neccessary to keep you going. People feeling a sense of worthlessness don't survive, they have no will to survive because they no longer feel influence, thus feel they are able to influence- without that ability, the ability to contribute to the memory and motive forces in life, it makes no difference whether they are present or not.

No matter how "individually forged" the path it is impossible to be completely isolated, to go unnoticed and fade. Lonliness is the ultimate deceiver. this path may not have as many hands to hold and heads to nod in agreement, but you will make your mark, and thus influence giving you value.

Answer 4

Value is both internally and externally configured. I can create value for myself by setting standards and goals that I must meet for me to achieve a certain value or rating. ON the other hand, the external world, or people around you can rate or value you depending on their own standards or norm. To remain sane, it will be good not to have self-values that are too far from that of the external world. BUt then you must also remember that the great charismatics leaders of our time were those whose self-value exceeded those of the external world! So I would say that if you so believe in your own value and think you will make a difference, don't stop yourself !

Answer 5

I like your question! It forces a good answer... I do agree that value should be an ingrained element of each individual.
But since we live in such culturally complicated society we cant really agree on any neutral grounds.
As an individual, I do think that we are bound by our sense of integrity, That is what gives me hope that we will eventually form an ideal society!

Answer 6

You are sort of on the right track, but I would say there is no such thing as value of a person. Life is meaningless. Someday all humans will be dead. Value is an illusion

Answer 7

Character

Answer 8

Society makes our appraisal..... they give people an idea of what it is to be worthy.
Some people are strong enough to believe in themselves but most people fall linto the preconceived idea of what or who we should be. Sadly many of them will never be satisfied with themselves and never feel worthy to themself or others.

Answer 9

Just a way to an instant fortune. Buy people for what they are worth and sell them for what they think there worth.

Answer 10

acceptance, outer and inner!