value systems
Ethics and priorities
Value systems are the frameworks of beliefs, principles, and priorities that guide how individuals or groups distinguish right from wrong, important from trivial.
A person's value system shapes their decisions and judgments: Her value system wouldn't allow her to lie, even to protect a friend.
Cultures, religions, and political movements each carry distinct value systems that may clash with others.
Strongly held beliefs
- tenetsFoundational beliefs of doctrine
- creedsFormal declarations of faith
- doctrinesCodified belief systems
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
ideology · worldview · faith · principles · orthodoxy · fundamentalism · secularism · theism
Long-established customs passed down
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- normsExpected behavioral standards
- taboosSocially proscribed practices
mores · folkways · rituals · ceremonies · identity · collectivism · individualism · filial piety
Study of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
justice · fairness · honesty · decency · dignity · respect · compassion · empathy
Greatest-happiness moral theory
- deontologyMorality based on obligations
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
- hedonismPursuit of gratification
nihilism · existentialism · pragmatism · relativism · objectivism · humanism · rationalism · naturalism
Enforceable societal rules
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- codesSystems for secrecy
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- institutionsEstablished organizations or practices
governance · democracy · meritocracy · egalitarianism · hierarchy · capitalism · socialism · rule of law
convictions
Strongly held beliefs
- tenetsFoundational beliefs of doctrine
- creedsFormal declarations of faith
- doctrinesCodified belief systems
dogma · ideology · worldview · faith · principles · orthodoxy · fundamentalism · secularism · theism · atheism
traditions
Long-established customs passed down
- heritageInherited cultural legacy
- customsTraditional practices or import taxes
- normsExpected behavioral standards
taboos · mores · folkways · rituals · ceremonies · identity · collectivism · individualism · filial piety · ubuntu
ethics
Study of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- conscienceInternal moral sense
righteousness · justice · fairness · honesty · decency · dignity · respect · compassion · empathy · altruism
utilitarianism
Greatest-happiness moral theory
- deontologyMorality based on obligations
- consequentialismEthics judging by results
- stoicismUncomplaining acceptance of difficulty
hedonism · nihilism · existentialism · pragmatism · relativism · objectivism · humanism · rationalism · naturalism · idealism
laws
Enforceable societal rules
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- codesSystems for secrecy
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
institutions · governance · democracy · meritocracy · egalitarianism · hierarchy · capitalism · socialism · rule of law · human rights
- wisdomwisdom, sagacity, sapience, discernment, insight
- literary themesheroism, hero's journey, ennui, social realism, morals
- character traitspersonality, virtue, temperament, honor, disposition
- customscustoms, customs clearance, wedding custom, customs declaration, burial custom
- ethicsmorality, deontology, dignity, sanctity of life, utilitarianism
- cultural interpretationsymbolism, art criticism, literary analysis, iconography, semiotics
value systemsnihilism
Rejection of objective meaning
amorality · valuelessness · anomie · moral bankruptcy · moral relativism
value systemsinstincts
Innate behavioral tendencies
impulses · primal instincts · whims · gut reactions · reflexes
value systemsempirical observation
Facts gathered through senses
value, system, valued, evaluate, values, evaluation, devalue, undervalue, valuation