Abstract

The whole subject of values is surrounded by partiality, ignorance, confusion and ambiguity from the conceptual level down to the nitty gritty level of everyday practice. Some of these problems have been exposed in a preliminary way in this paper. A great deal more, and more detailed, work at conceptual and practical levels needs to be undertaken before we can really start to talk intelligibly and in a non-confusing way about value and values. One thing is clear. We will never completely escape from the relativity and conceptual slipperiness that inheres in the very nature of valuing some things over others. Values are created in an ongoing dynamic process, not revealed. In the short-term, however, this knowledge will not convince politicians and other ideologues that values may not be in and of themselves a wholly desirable thing!