0.2.2 Introduction to Values: Practical Analysis

Version 1.1 March 2013                                   Previous Version

2. Science

We look at how the scientific method rephrases our core values into what we call derived values, so that scientists can collaboratively investigate how things work.  These are, for example:

Openness, transparency, honesty, uncertainty, respect, reason, evidence.

We look at how science provides good explanations of how the universe evolved after the big bang, how stars and planets, such as Earth, were created, how life on Earth began, how life came to have the huge diversity we see now, how humans evolved and how we became the conscious, cooperative, caring and competitive creatures we are.

Science helps to explain why we are as we are, and why we behave as we do.  It provides the basis of our universal narrative and helps us to find our place within it. 

Science doesn’t tell us ultimately how we should behave: it doesn’t lead to core values.  But science provides a wealth of information on what are the most effective strategies – based on our current knowledge – to achieve the goals our core values lead to: it helps us to decide how to do it.  We call these additional principles guiding our choices effecting values, because they enable us to make choices consistent with our core values more effectively:

For instance, we value sustainability of our global environment, because science tells us it is required to promote core values of life, love and equality.  We value mercy because science tells us some punishments don't lead to better behaviour, so they don't promote our core value of responsibility while valuing life and love leads us to avoid causing unnecessary hurt.

Many atheists confuse effecting values, from science and history, with core values.

The core value we most associate with science is Diversity: choosing to respect those of different backgrounds, other informed opinions, and to consider alterative views.  more

3. History

History is like science, based on the same core values and similar derived values.  We look at what we can learn from history so that we can work out how we should react now.  History also helps us to free ourselves from our limited personal and family histories, to see the randomness in our identities, to escape from identity politics, and seek more universal values.

We look at how humans occupied the world, how civilisations developed at different rates and some collapsed due to environmental factors and resistance to change.  We look at technology, business and government: how they spread, how they promote prosperity, how they empower nations and corporations, and how we need to minimise their harm.  We look at how colonialism devastated most of the world, but human rights have slowly progressed.

Our core values lead us to prefer some individuals and aspects of societies over others.  We prefer those that enable people to lead more fulfilling lives and help to address the global threats we face.  History provides salutary lessons about which strategies have worked and which have failed.  These principles or guidelines are also effecting values, such as:

prosperity, technology, productivity, property rights, social stability, rule of law, civil and political rights, freedom, democracy.

The core value we most associate with history is Life: choosing to live this life, to join the struggle, to be part of humanity’s story.   more