Operating Definitions/Writing Guidelines

Values

Definition | Common Values | Value Conflicts | Political Values

Definition

Values -- Standards or conditions carried in ideas representing what someone thinks is important, should be, and what that person will spend time, effort, and money to achieve.

Some Common Values

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The Value Conflicts That Place Us Between a Rock and a Hard Place

For each of the statements below, identify the two values that compete for the different courses of action as reflected in each answer. See the suggested conflicts below for each question.

1. Your older brother injects hard drugs. Should you tell your parents? [ ] Yes [ ] No

2. Should the U. S. President hold weekly press conferences? [ ] Yes [ ] No

3. How fair are racial quotas in the work place? [ ] Yes [ ] No

4. Should a society imprison those with radical ideas? [ ] Yes [ ] No

5. Should citizens be allowed to protest a war? [ ] Yes [ ] No

6. Is it wise to adopt a national identity card and restrict travel to prevent domestic terrorist attacks? [ ] Yes [ ] No

7. Would it be wise to abolish grades in school? [ ] Yes [ ] No

8. A poor man kills two young men who raped his 10-year old daughter. Should he be convicted? [ ] Yes [ ] No

9. At a discount store, you notice a fellow customer sneak out undetected with an expensive item. Should you report it? [ ] Yes [ ] No

10. An attractive co-worker indicates frank, unambiguous interest. You are married. Should you have the affair? [ ] Yes [ ] No

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1. Love for your sibling vs. loyalty to parents

2. Freedom of the press vs. national security

3. Equality of opportunity vs. competition

4. Tranquility vs. progress

5. Freedom of speech vs. national security

6. Security vs. freedom

7. Cooperation vs. competition

8. Justice vs. fairness

9. Honesty vs. tolerance

10. Adventure vs. loyalty and commitment