Issues of Value

This image stirs something very deep within me, a number of values that drive the choices I make every day; family, fatherhood, security, adventure, travel, time well spent.

Can you identify your values and their contexts?

When a comparison or social judgment is advanced in an argument, the issue becomes an argument of value.

Value arguments are derived when:

• You evaluate - Abortion is wrong.
• You compare - The rights of the fetus outweigh the rights of the mother.
• You argue the harms - Abortion is dangerous.
• You argue the advantages - Women's rights should be protected.
• You argue the disadvantages - The unborn's rights will be violated.

When you consider the constructive arguments presented in class, consider the values. You'll find them in the claim (abortion is wrong), in the grounds (the rights of the fetus outweigh the rights of the mother), even in the warrant (abortion is wrong because it takes a human life).

Assess Values Through Definition
What criteria are being used to define the value?
"Preserving the right to choose is in the best interest of the mother." What is meant by "best interest"?

Assess Values Through Relevance
What argument is more relevant to the value of human life, the rights of the mother? the rights of the unborn baby?
Is the value distorted or misrepresented to apply to the argument? "She gave up her rights when she had sex."

Assess the Value Through Importance
The right to choose versus the right to life.


American Value Systems (Argumentation and the Decision-Making Process, R. D. Rieke & M. O. Sillars)

Puritan - Pioneer - Peasant
Individuals have an obligation to themselves and the people around them, even their god, to work hard and remain righteous (virtue, hard work, temperance, dependability, sobriety).

Enlightenment
Individuals discover truths through reason (freedom, nature, science, liberty, individualism, knowledge, reason, progress).

Progressive Values
Progress is inherently good and continues to make things better (practicality, efficiency, change, evolution).

Transcendental Values
Intuition is higher than reason, the centrality of love for others, the Golden Rule (humanitarian, respect, truth, equality, love, kindness, compassion, friendship).

Personal Success
Pragmatic concern for material happiness of the individual, personal achievement (career, security, family, identity, health, dignity, consideration).

Collectivist Values
Some control of the excesses of freedom are perceived necessary (cooperation, unity, brotherhood, social good, order).