Human values

What are "human values"?
What is the difference between “human” values, "ethical" values and "moral" values?
Human values and peace

Human values are the virtues that guide us to take into account the human element when one interacts with other human beings. They are the many positive dispositions that create bonds of humanity between people and thus have value for all of us as human beings. They are our strong positive feelings for the human essence of the other. It’s both what we expect others to do to us and what we aim to give to other human beings ("Do unto the other what you wish for yourself"). These human values have the effect of bonding, comforting, reassuring and procuring serenity.

Human values are the foundation for any viable life within society: they build space for a drive, a movement towards one another, which leads to peace.    

Human values thus defined are universal: they are shared by all human beings, whatever their religion, their nationality, their culture, their personal history. By nature, they induce consideration for others.  

Human values are, for example:

• civility, respect, consideration;

• honesty, fairness, loyalty, sharing, solidarity;

• openness, listening, welcoming, acceptance, recognition, appreciation;

• brotherhood, friendship, empathy, compassion, love.  

Respect is one of the most important human value for establishing relations of peace - and  yet it remains elusive: its understanding varies according to age (child, teen,adult), to one's education and surrounding culture. It is better understood when combined with other values: a disposition that is deeper than civility, very close to consideration, and approaching appreciation. Indeed, to respect someone, one must be able to appreciate some of his/her human qualities, even if one does not appreciate his/her opinions or past behaviour.

What is the difference between “human” values, "ethical" values and "moral" values?

Values that are said to be "ethical" are those that command respectful behavior toward others, that is, towards other human beings, without harming them. These can be applied to animal and plant life as well.

"Moral" values are in fact the same, but today, "moralising" rhetoric is not well received.  For this reason, some people refer to "ethical values". However, most people seem more interested yet in "human values". These are seen as much more positive, perhaps because we feel directly concerned:  we ourselves have a strong desire to have others be "human" to us.

These human, ethical and moral values are universal values, felt deep down inside each of us (our consciousness). They are also expressed formally in laws, constitutions and various international texts (Declarations, Conventions, etc..) asserting Human Rights. The recognition of these universal values by many countries in the world is the first step toward their implementation, calling for everyone to respect them. These texts aim in the first place at guaranteeing the integrity (both physical and psychological) of every human being, precisely because he/she is human: each person holds the right not to be abused, whatever form those abuses may take. But the ultimate goal is to promote a positive and concrete practice (attitudes, behaviours and acts) establishing those human universal values as the basis of human relationships, in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual respect of those values.

Human values inspire us to better put into practice our moral values, especially in conflict situations, when we tend to put them aside and become confrontational.

Human values and peace

It’s by making one’s own these human values that we can better feel, keep in mind, appreciate and especially value the importance of connection between human beings. It’s then easier to respect the physical or psychological integrity of the other, and to stop oneself from getting carried away by feelings and reactions that could cause injury. By realising our likeness in terms of humanness, I can wish him well, I can wish he lives in peace with himself and with others.
Putting into practice our human values helps us have a contributing attitude towards peace.

Human values are thus an inspiration for peace: by integrating them into our way of managing human relations, they predispose us to use a tool for peace: peace reflexes.

In the Ideas box in the left column, you will find ideas, helpful information and activities to increase and deepen your own ideas concerning human values and to pass on these values around you – especially to children.