Doy you know any universal values?

Question

What are the most important things in life in terms of universal values applicable at all times to all humans?

1) at all times: in the past, at the present, in the future

2) to all humans: different cultures, different genders. different religious background

3) under all circumstances: among members of a family, in work setting between nations

Bear in mind that I am asking for universal values not universal code of conduct as some of the ten commandments which are universal enough.

Please sustent your answer. Don't respond only by saying "trust, compassion and honesty". Include a reason with your answer and why you think are universal (at least the source). For example "Self Respect" because once a person has self-respect, the person's dignity will never be lessened. Self-Respect is the core of all religious and philosophical thoughts. For this, Confucius said: "Do not be concerned about others not appreciating you. Be concerned about you not appreciating others"

Answer 1

Here's an excerpt from something I wrote several years back. Please see the grouping of words in capitals below for your answer to the things which are applicable at all times to all humans:

THE PROBLEM OF UNIVERSALS.
Psychologists have told us that our brains are set up to detect patterns. This would be an example of an a priori human function. Nothing ground breaking ‘bout that, in fact we can see the primitive forms of this ability in animal life. Through the senses of sight, smell, hearing and taste, animals instinctually “group” the experiences that are salient to their basic everyday lives. Animals seem to be born with this hard wired, so they can't access or change it. In them, it is like READ ONLY MEMORY.
For us, the predisposition to recognize patterns and group objects, feelings and experiences takes on a much more complicated meaning. We understand the world through the patterns and groups we create – leading to an entire conceptual / grouping system. Now that system, I believe, is a posteriori. We acquire and form it as we learn and age, Don't we?. Therefore, being volitional and willfull creatures, one would think that we've transcended the ROM level of lesser animals, especially since our conceptual system is so complex and massive, almost limitless (getting us in trouble sometimes).

The big question then is how can it be that all of humanity develops almost the exact SAME conceptual system without willfully attempting to affect it as individuals? There are many different pattern perception opportunities and ways for us to assign meaning, yet one by one we all seem to perceive the same patterns and relative value behind our pattern recognition – as well as basic & prime concepts, leading to the same grouping system and conceptual system. This appears to transcend language and culture as well. It makes the whole thing look a priori!

Anna Wierzbicka has compiled a list of what she calls semantic primes, culled from 50 or so widely different languages. The implication is that they go way, way, back. Here they are:

I, YOU, SOMEONE, SOMETHING, PEOPLE
THIS, THE SAME, OTHER
ONE, TWO, SOME, MANY/MUCH, ALL
GOOD, BAD, BIG, SMALL
THINK, KNOW, WANT, FEEL, SEE, HEAR
SAY, WORD
DO, HAPPEN, MOVE, ALIVE
NOT, MAYBE, CAN, BECAUSE, IF
WHEN, NOW, AFTER, BEFORE, A LONG TIME, A SHORT TIME
WHERE, HERE, ABOVE, BELOW, FAR, NEAR, SIDE, INSIDE
VERY, MORE
KIND OF, PART OF
LIKE

Now that alone is amazing, but it doesn’t stop there. As we continue to build our conceptual systems, there is very little splitting off. And any differences from person to person mostly deal with cultural and regional quirks.

I call this phenomenon the problem of universals...

Answer 2

I'm going to mention that that is unattainable. I do not believe homicide is inherently mistaken, and I do not believe you'll be able to uncover any values that the complete global is of the same opinion on. I in most cases wont consider some thing prompt considering the fact that I under no circumstances consider men and women. Edit: E.g. I could dispute Monem's reply becuase I could deal with others no longer as I could love to be handled however how they should be handled. edit: @Imbogli: Alienated men and women are men and women too, and as a result 'love is well' could no longer be common.

Answer 3

The 10 Arms of Dharma are the 5 negative and 5 positive polarities of human behaviour that I believe are the root cause of all human suffering and it's opposite love or joy.
When we act in the 5 negative, which are lies; stealing; abuse; betrayal;denial; we then have those things return to us by others behaviour to us. The return is the law of cause and effect.

When we do the 5 opposite's of truth; giving; caring; trust; acceptance, we also get these coming back.

The way I look at it, all painful situations in a person's life can be traced back to lies; stealing; abuse; betrayal and denial.

Even white lies are lies. Even gossip is betrayal. We have to really honestly consider all our actions because our lies, stealing, abuse, betrayal and denial are often the things we do but just don't see that we are doing them. I consider these are universal laws that transcend all cultures, all races, all times, past present and future.

Answer 4

I would say Maslow's hierarchy of needs applies to all.

Physical needs - If some needs are not fulfilled, they take the highest priority. Physical needs can control thoughts and behaviours, and can cause people to feel sickness, pain, and discomfort. These include food and shelter.

Next - Safety, when our physical needds are met, mankind will seek safety and security. Security of body, of emploiyment, of resources, or morality, of the family, of health, and of property.

After physical and safety needs are fulfilled, the third layer of human needs is social. This involves emotionally-based relationships such as: friendship, sexual intimacy, having a supportive and communicative family.

Next, all humans have a need to be respected, to have self-respect, and to respect others. People need to engage themselves to gain recognition and have an activity or activities that give the person a sense of contribution, to feel accepted and self-valued, be it in a profession or hobby.

Next, humans have the need to increase their intelligence and thereby chase knowledge. Cognitive needs is the expression of the natural human need to learn, explore, discover and create to get a better understanding of the world around them. And a need beautiful imagery or something new and aesthetically pleasing. Humans need to refresh themselves in the presence and beauty of nature while carefully absorbing and observing their surroundings to extract the beauty that the world has to offer. Self-esteem, confidence, achievement, respect of others, and respect by others.

Last, is the need of humans to make the most of their abilities and to strive to be the best they can. Morality, creativity, spontaneity, problem solving, lack of prejudice and acceptance of facts.

Answer 5

Consequently there is now every reason why the human creation will yet be set free? Or why self respect is some reason? Hm...The long awaited time for this is at hand!

Answer 6

As there is no uniformity of culture there will not be any uniformity of values. Values are human constructs supported by beliefs. All beliefs are made up by people. All beliefs are equally irrelevant as they are just strings of words that have no basis in real life.

As most of us have experienced, there is HUGE variation in beliefs. Values follow from belief. With such enormous variation in belief, it will be unlikely that we will find any value that is accepted by everyone. There wil be no universal value.

Answer 7

I think to love is a universal value because it feels so good to us to be able to love - simply put. I know of no one who doesn't feel good to love. Being able to love is an ohm; not just being tuned in to the everything, but being part of the everything. I think it is our actualization. I hope this isn't too vague. I've tried to be simple, but responsible to your request.

Answer 8

The one thing I know to be true and universal is that mankind will never resolve their differences and we will never be able to know everything as our minds are limited

Answer 9

Love and Hatred
Yeah man I will write an essay but next time

Answer 10

Considering that my knowledge is limited to the Earthly sphere I can't say that I know anything which is Universal!