Human Values are seen as absolute. I think they are a spectrum, not just because there is a weightage or intensity to it. But also because they are often on the conflicting ends of a spectrum.
I believe there are 7 to 15 fundamental value spectrums that apply to each human being. Most values—like Freedom, tradition, or Justice—are derivatives of these fundamental spectrums. I don’t know what these are, but enough data about values and talking to people help me narrow it down. It is a 5-year exercise, I think, but we will get there.
- each value is on a spectrum. For example, Freedom stands for a dislike of constraints. Some people operate better without structure. Opposite end is people who like structure. Such people are more likely to hold Discipline as a value. Each of us lives at one point on these spectrums.
- most values are derivatives of Base Spectrums.
(I am still collecting data points to derive all the fundamental value spectrums – Base Spectrums. One of the main reasons for building this app is to get a large enough dataset to determine these value spectrums scientifically. Ideally, ValuesDAO will fund the largest study of human values globally.)
Base spectrums are those that i believe apply to all human beings. It is a scale that I see like a pendulum. See Pendulum Theory.
Almost every one of us is swinging somewhere in the middle. Hanging on to the pendulum as it swings in the society.