Complexity & Values LO8496

jpomo@gate.net ("jpomo@gate.net")
Mon, 15 Jul 1996 10:15:31 +0000

Replying to LO8470 --

On Sat, 13 Jul 1996 Thomas Benjamin wrote -

> Robert Bacal On Complexity and Values LO8457 quoted an earlier
> contribution "In many areas of the world (China and Egypt are two) as soon
> as a, child is born the child is given water from the local river. If the
> child cannot survive the dysentary, etc. which results then the child
> cannot live in that region anyway." From this practice he suggests that
> there are no universal values.

>snip>
Thomas goes on to relate his observations in India on infanticide to
support the view that values are universal, but conditions and thus
behavior are not.

> I hope I have been able to make my point.

Thomas, you made your point elegantly. There are core values which
are universal and I have found no person who considers that being
treated unfairly, dishonestly or uncompassionately is good. All
believe that would be bad.

Likewise, our environment or living/working conditions play as large
a role in determining our behavior as do our values. Criticizing
others for not living up to our values turns out to generally be
counter-productive and certainly against the most common value of
all, the Golden Rule.

Regards, Joan
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Joan Pomo The Finest Tools for Managing People
Simonton Associates Based on the book
jpomo@gate.net "How to Unleash the Power of People"

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