Rol's summary of the complexity and values discussions picked up a
lot of threads, as he said. For myself, while I am aware of the values of
my upbringing (kinda old fashioned) and of their evolution (toward more
inclusive and, I hope, more tolerant understandings of value), Rol's
initial question of what the worldwide values might be is the interesting
one. I note the continuing attraction to peoples around the world of the
stated values of the American Declaration of Independence and
Constitution. Not that everyone wants to become "American," but that such
notions as equality, liberty, and the right to pursue happiness so deeply
moves people, even when they would conveniently define themselves as
"people" and others who believe differently as "non-people" so they're
excluded.
The encuring power of those Eighteeenth Century ideals suggests
that they resonate with something that transcends a lot of other cultural
contexts.
So perhaps the worldwide values will be those that take the basics
- my nominees would be the basics of the US system - and understand them
more broadly, to include the groups disenfranchised by the limited context
of the times. To understand "people" as including women, blacks, Asians,
Latinos and Indians; to understand "God" as not just the Christian God but
the spirit of good in every religion might make a pretty good place to
start.
Thanks to Rol for a great summary and comments that nicely frame the
issues.
Sam
MXJELI@MAIL.WM.EDU
Mariann Jelinek
Richard C. Kraemer Professor of Business
Graduate School of Business,
College of William and Mary,
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Tel. (804) 221-2882 FAX: (804) 229-6135
************************************************************************
The only enduring strategic advantage is the ability
to change the rules of the game.
--mxjeli@mail.wm.edu (Mariann Jelinek)
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>