Philosophy Discussion Forums

In one word, what is the one value that holds the most power in your life?

Please feel free to express your mind with your response.

My one word is Will. Without this value, I wouldn't have a force of movement towards progression.


Thanks for your time, AK

Sex .

Gratitude. At present. These inclinations can change over time.

Versimillitude. I don't give a stuff if you agree with me or not, and to a certain extent I don't care if you're right or not. But we need to be consistent.

Togo1 wrote:Versimillitude. I don't give a stuff if you agree with me or not, and to a certain extent I don't care if you're right or not. But we need to be consistent.

Togo1,

That is a powerful value within life. The appearance of being true or real is a great value to seek, but what about the action of being true and real? Saying you don't care of other's response and opinion goes against expressing consistency of appearing to be true and real.


Just because the top of the water looks still doesn't mean there isn't a current underneath.

Care. As in attaching importance to something. You can will for some change but only if you care.

Surely someone's going to say the 'L' word?

I am unable to determine which value is the number one value in my life. I wouldn't even know how to determine such a thing. It varies depending on the situation I am in.

Fan of Science wrote:I am unable to determine which value is the number one value in my life. I wouldn't even know how to determine such a thing. It varies depending on the situation I am in.

Maybe it's something you always have present around you. If a situation/moment is what exponentially forms your value, something like opportunity or life could be your one word.

Steve3007 wrote:Surely someone's going to say the 'L' word?

I'm surprised that hasn't been a response yet! Anytime I ask that question in person it's a common response to hear.

Good point, Steve and Advocate, how could we forget liberty? Or learning?? ... I shied away from "love" due to the commonly attached sentimental semantic. Luuurve. When I encounter such mawkishness I feel like making comments that would require moderation (unless said by Ringo, who gets a special pass as a revered old hippie :)

I find gratitude more useful because it always prompts feelings of love or affection anyway, whereas love may similarly trigger feelings of gratitude but it can also prompt fear and possessiveness. I remember when I was so sick that even lifting an arm off the bed was a titanic effort. We take almost everything for granted, being so busy keeping life and limb together that there's not much time to understand why it's being kept together. The unexamined life ... it's worth living but life is arguably better with some examination.

Even having the energy to resist gravity and move this body and mind around seems extraordinary when that capacity is not there. If you can be gratified by pretty basic things then everything else good that happens is simply spice and topping. I picked up this notion in part from a peak experience and also from reading up on people who had deathbed NDEs. A general sense of gratitude for everything and much a much happier outlook is a common aftermath of NDE reports. These people have "been there", have tasted a perspective we fortunately probably have not. I take what they say seriously.

Steve3007 wrote:Surely someone's going to say the 'L' word?

Lobotomy??

awareness

Altruism. It just is. For me, altruism is the foremost value in my life. It just turned out that way. Reflection revealed altruism to be the most recurring theme for me.

I could describe altruism as a value that encompasses all other values, however I hold no such delusion. It is possible that altruism consists of gratitude, care and love in the sense that altruism may concern creating a good experience for another person. The same could be said for sex. Even awareness (of other’s feelings) could be considered altruistic. Will, if related to the will to help others, could be altruistic. And verisimilitude, if it were applied to the appreciation of another’s truthfulness, could also be altruistic.

With enough acumen and wordsmithing, it may be possible to include every imaginable value under the umbrella of altruism. But I doubt it. And let me remind you that I hold no notion of altruism as the end-all, be-all of value. As I said, it just turned out to be that way for me. I think every person’s one-word response to the question is subjective, legitimate and true. After all, the question calls for your unique reply.

And I don’t deny that altruism is self-serving. An act of altruism is its own reward for the protagonist, a warm feeling of satisfaction. Maybe satisfaction is the value I should have used!

Finally, common sense says that I have written way too much here. Unfortunately for the weary reader, this has been my one-word answer.

The value that hold the most power is; TIME.