Values and Worldviews

2 subtopics

What are values?

Qualities or principles that people believe have an importance in life and guide their behavior, decisions, and interactions with others and the environment.

What influence do values have?

Values influence an individual's choices, priorities, and actions, impacting their relationships, societal norms, and environmental stewardship.

what are value surveys? why are they done?

Value surveys are tools used to assess and measure individuals' values, beliefs, and priorities. They are conducted to understand how these values influence behavior, decision-making, and social or environmental attitudes.

What are worldviews?

the lenses through which groups of people to see and understand the world around them- influence our moral compass

What is a moral compass?

An individual's internal sense of right and wrong that guides their behavior and decisions.

How do worldviews differ from perspectives?

Worldviews are broad, foundational belief systems, often group-held (don’t fit into categories). Perspectives are individual, specific viewpoints influenced by experiences.

What is the impact of technology on worldviews?

Technology shapes our worldviews by altering communication, access to information, and cultural interactions, thus influencing beliefs and values.

What is an environmental value system?

An EVS defines how individuals or groups perceive the environment and its resources, shaping their views on environmental issues and consequential actions.

What factors shape an environmental value system (EVS)?

An EVS is shaped by cultural, religious, social, political, economic, and environmental factors. These inputs influence how individuals perceive the environment and decide on environmental actions.

What are EVS inputs and outputs?

EVS inputs include cultural, social, economic, and political influences, while outputs are the actions and decisions made regarding environmental issues based on these perceptions.

What is Ecocentrism?

Ecocentrism prioritizes nature's intrinsic value and ecosystem balance over human needs, advocating for sustainable practices.

What is Anthropocentrism?

Anthropocentrism is a human-centred worldview; it prioritizes human needs over nature, often leading to unsustainable practices.

What is Technocentrism?

Technocentrism is a worldview that places technology and human ingenuity at the centre of solving environmental problems, assuming innovation and economic growth.

What are the advantages of an Ecocentric Environmental Value System (EVS)?

It fosters sustainability (reusing materials, minimal impact), benefits long-term well-being, and doesn't rely on technological development.

What are the disadvantages of an Ecocentric Environmental Value System (EVS)?

Conservation is expensive with slow returns, changing attitudes is difficult, and developing countries may resist restrictions.

What are the advantages of a Technocentric Environmental Value System (EVS)?

It offers material substitution (avoiding industrial change), provides convenient solutions, and promotes social and economic progress.

What are the disadvantages of a Technocentric Environmental Value System (EVS)?

It can increase resource consumption, create new environmental problems, incur high costs, and disconnect humans from nature.

Basic principles of an ecocentric viewpoint(2)

Ecology and nature and center to humanity

Promotion of practices to conserve natural resources and protect ecosystem integrity, emphasizing sustainability over economic growth.

Intrinsic value

Value of a entity possesses in and of itself

Value indepedent of its usefulness or instrumental value to humans