VALUES

Definition
Humans have the unique ability to define their identity, choose their values and
establish their beliefs. All three of these directly influence a persons behavior.
People have gone to great lengths to demonstrate the validity of their beliefs,
including war and sacrificing their own life! Conversely, people are not motivated
to support or validate the beliefs of another, when those beliefs are contrary to
their own. People will act congruent with their personal values or what they deem
to be important.
A value is defined as a principle that promotes well-being or prevents harm.
Another definition is:
Values are our guidelines for our success our paradigm about what is
acceptable. Personal values are defined as: Emotional beliefs in principles
regarded as particularly favorable or important for the individual. Our values
associate emotions to our experiences and guide our choices, decisions and
actions.
Said in another way, Values are the scales we use to weigh our choices for
our actions, whether to move towards or away from something.

Types of Values
The five core human values are:
(1) Right conduct, (2) Peace, (3) Truth, (4) Love, and (5) Nonviolence.
1. Values related to RIGHT CONDUCT are:
(a) SELF-HELP SKILLS: Care of possessions, diet, hygiene, modesty, posture,
self reliance, and tidy appearance
(b) SOCIAL SKILLS: Good behavior, good manners, good relationships,
helpfulness, No
wastage, and good environment, and
(c) ETHICAL SKILLS: Code of conduct, courage, dependability, duty, efficiency,
ingenuity, initiative, perseverance, punctuality, resourcefulness, respect for all,
and responsibility

Values Continues..
2. Values related to PEACE are: Attention, calmness, concentration,
contentment, dignity, discipline, equality, equanimity, faithfulness, focus,
gratitude, happiness, harmony, humility, inner silence, optimism, patience,
reflection, satisfaction, self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-control, selfdiscipline, self-esteem, self-respect, sense control, tolerance, and understanding
3. Values related to TRUTH are: Accuracy, curiosity, discernment, fairness,
fearlessness, honesty, integrity (unity of thought, word, and deed), intuition,
justice, optimism, purity, quest for knowledge, reason, self-analysis, sincerity,
sprit of enquiry, synthesis, trust, truthfulness, and determination.
4. Values related to LOVE are: Acceptance, affection, care, compassion,
consideration, dedication, devotion, empathy, forbearance, forgiveness,
friendship, generosity, gentleness, humanness, interdependence, kindness,
patience, patriotism, reverence, sacrifice, selflessness, service, sharing,
sympathy, thoughtfulness, tolerance and trust.
5. Values related to NON-VIOLENCE are:
(a) PSYCHOLOGICAL: Benevolence, compassion, concern for others,
consideration, forbearance, forgiveness, manners, happiness, loyalty, morality,
and universal love (b) SOCIAL: Appreciation of other cultures and religions,
brotherhood, care of environment, citizenship, equality, harmlessness, national
awareness, perseverance, respect for property, and social justice.

Types of Values Continues..

PERSEVERANCE is defined as persistence, determination, resolution,
tenacity, dedication, commitment, constancy, steadfastness, stamina,
endurance and indefatigability. To persevere is described as to continue,
carry on, stick at it (in formal), keep going, persist, plug away, (informal),
remain, stand firm, stand fast, hold on and hang on. Perseverance builds
character.
ACCURACY means freedom from mistake or error; conformity to truth or to
a standard or model and exactness. Accuracy is defined as correctness,
exactness, authenticity, truth, veracity, closeness to truth (true value) and
carefulness. The value of accuracy embraces a large area and has many
implications. Engineers are encouraged to demonstrate accuracy in their
behavior through the medium of praise and other incentives. Accuracy
includes telling the truth, not exaggerating, and taking care
over ones work.
DISCERNMENT means discrimination, perception, penetration, and insight.
Discernment means the power to see what is not obvious to the average
mind. It stresses accuracy, especially in reading character or motives.
Discrimination stresses the power to distinguish or select what is true or
genuinely excellent. Perception implies quick and often sympathetic
discernment, as of shades of feelings. Penetration implies a searching mind
that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial. Insight suggests
depth of discernment.

Evolution of Human Values

The human values evolve because of the following factors:
@ The impact of norms of the society on the fulfillment of the individuals
needs or desires.
@ Developed or modified by ones own awareness, choice, and judgment in
fulfilling the needs.
@ By the teachings and practice of Preceptors (Gurus) or Saviors or
religious leaders.
@ Fostered or modified by social leaders, rulers of kingdom, and by law
(government).

ETHICS
Ethics is the word that refers to morals, values, and beliefs of the
individuals, family or the society.
@ The word has several meanings. Basically it is an activity and process of
inquiry.
@ Secondly, it is different from non-moral problems, when dealing with
issues and controversies.
@ Thirdly, ethics refers to a particular set of beliefs, attitudes, and habits of
individuals or family or groups concerned with
morals.
@ Fourth, it is used to mean morally correct.

INTEGRITY
@ Integrity is defined as the unity of thought, word and deed (honesty) and
open mindedness. It includes the capacity to communicate the factual
information so that others can make well-informed decisions.
@ It yields the persons peace of mind, and hence adds strength and
consistency in character, decisions, and actions. This paves way to ones
success. It is one of the self-direction virtues.
@ It enthuse people not only to execute a job well but to achieve excellence
in performance. It helps them to own the responsibility and earn self-respect
and recognition by doing the job.
@ Moral integrity is defined as a virtue, which reflects a consistency of
ones attitudes, emotions, and conduct in relation to justified moral values.

WORK ETHICS
Industry and Society are the two systems which interact with each other
and are interdependent.
Society
requires
industry/business
system
which
provides
manufacturing, distribution and consumption activities. It needs
investment (capital input), labor (input), supply (raw materials),
production (industries, business organizations), marketing and
distribution (transport), and consumption (public, customer). A lot of
transactions (and interactions) between these sub-systems involving
people are needed for the welfare of the society. It is here, the work
ethics plays an essential role.
Work ethics is defined as a set of attitudes concerned with the value of
work, which forms the motivational orientation. The work ethics is
aimed at ensuring the economy (get job, create wealth, earn salary),
productivity (wealth, profit), safety (in workplace), health and hygiene
(working conditions), privacy (raise family), security (permanence
against contractual, pension, and retirement benefits), cultural and
social development (leisure, hobby, and happiness), welfare (social
work), environment (anti-pollution activities), and offer opportunities for
all, according to their abilities, but without discrimination.

SOCIAL PROBLEMS
BECAUSE
?

To work (job), is not for monetary considerations only. Human

beings believe that it is good to work. Work is good for the body and
mind. It promotes self-respect, self-esteem, good for the family, and
obligation to the society and allow the world to prosper. Work lays a
moral and meaningful foundation for life. That is why, work ethics
affirm s that, the work per se is worthy, admirable and valuable at
personal and social levels. It improves the quality of life and makes
life purposeful, successful, and happy.

@ By work ethics, duties to the self, family, society, and nation are
fulfilled. Rights of the individuals are respected and nourished.
Values and virtues are cultivated and enjoyed by all human beings.
Further, the quality of life is improved and the environment
protected. On the other hand, unemployment and underemployment lead to frustration, social tensions, and occasional
militancy. For a developing economy and society, like ours, we need
to promote work ethics, at all levels, to flourish as developed nation.

VIRTUES

@ Virtues are positive and preferred values. Virtues are desirable

attitudes or character traits, motives and emotions that enable us to be
successful and to act in ways that develop our highest potential. They
energize and enable us to pursue the ideals that we have adopted.
Honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, fidelity, integrity, fairness,
transparency, self-control, and prudence are all examples of virtues.
@ Virtues are tendencies which include, solving problems through
peaceful and constructive means and follow the path of the golden
mean between the extremes of excess and deficiency. They are like
habits, once acquired, they become characteristics of a person.
Moreover, a person who has developed
virtues will naturally act in ways consistent with moral principles. The
virtuous person is the ethical person.

Civic virtues are the moral duties and rights, as a citizen of the village or the country or
an integral part of the society and environment. An individual may exhibit civic virtues by
voting, volunteering, and organizing welfare groups and meetings.
The duties are:
1. To pay taxes to the local government and state, in time.
2. To keep the surroundings clean and green.
3. Not to pollute the water, land, and air by following hygiene and proper garbage
disposal. For example, not to burn wood, tyres, plastic materials, spit in the open, even
not to smoke in the open, and not to cause nuisance to the public, are some of the civic
(duties) virtues.
4. To follow the road safety rules.
On the other hand, the rights are:
1. To vote the local or state government.
2. To contest in the elections to the local or state government.
3. To seek a public welfare facility such as a school, hospital or a community hall or
transport or communication facility, for the residents.
4. To establish a green and safe environment, pollution free, corruption free, and to
follow ethical principles. People are said to have the right to breathe in fresh air, by not
allowing smoking in public.
5. People have inalienable right to accept or reject a project in their area. One has the
right to seek legal remedy, in this respect, through public interest petition.

These virtues are divided into four

categories:
1. Civic Knowledge
Citizens must understand what the Constitution says
about how the government is working, and what the
government is supposed to do and what not to do.
We must understand the basis of our responsibilities
as citizens, besides duties and rights. We must be
able to recognize when the government or another
citizen infringes upon our rights. It implies that the
government requires the participation of the
enlightened citizens, to serve and survive.

These virtues are divided into four

categories:
2. Self-Restraint
For citizens to live in a free society with limited
government each citizen must be able to control or
restrain himself; otherwise, we would need a police
statethat is, a dictatorial government to maintain safety
and order. He advocated for morality and declared that
happiness is achieved and sustained through virtues and
morals. He advocated and demonstrated self-restraint
several times in his private and public life, and naturally
he was a great leader.

These virtues are divided into four

categories:
3. Self-Assertion
Self-assertion means that citizens must be proud of their
rights, and have the courage to stand up in public and
defend their rights. Sometimes, a government may grab
the very rights that it was created to protect. In such
cases, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish that
government (e.g., voting rights, rights call back).

These virtues are divided into four

categories:
4. Self-Reliance
Citizens who cannot provide for themselves will need a
large government to take care of them. Once citizens
become dependent on government for their basic needs,
the people are no longer in a position to demand that
government act within the confines of the Constitution.
Self-reliant citizens are free citizens in the sense that
they are not dependent on others for their basic needs.
They do not need a large provider-government, which
has the potential to become an oppressive government,
to meet those needs. Only a strong self-reliant citizenry
will be able to enjoy fully the blessings of liberty. These
civic virtues, applicable to local, state, and central
governments, nourish freedom and civil liberty at the root
of democracy.

RESPECT FOR OTHERS

This is a basic requirement for nurturing friendship, team work, and for the
synergy it promotes and sustains. The principles enunciated in this
regard are:
1.

Recognize and accept the existence of other persons as human beings, because
they have a right to live, just as you have.

2. Respect others ideas (decisions), words, and labor (actions). One need not accept
or approve or award them, but shall listen to them first. One can correct or warn,
if they commit mistakes. Some people may wait and watch as fun, if one falls,
claiming that they know others mistakes before and know that they will fall!
Appreciate colleagues and subordinates on their positive actions. Criticize
constructively and encourage them. They are bound to improve their
performance, by learning properly and by putting more efforts.
3. Show goodwill on others. Love others. Allow others to grow. Basically, the goodwill
reflects on the originator and multiplies itself on everybody. This will facilitate colinearity, focus, coherence, and strength to achieve the goals.

LIVING PEACEFULLY

@ To live peacefully, one should start install peace within (self). Charity
begins at home. Then one can spread peace to family, organization
where one works, and then to the world, including the environment. Only
who are at peace can spread peace. You can not gift an article which you
do not possess. The essence of oriental philosophy is that one should not
fight for peace. It is oxymoron. War or peace can be won only by peace,
and not by wars !
One should adopt the following means to live peacefully, in the world:
Nurture
1. Order in ones life (self-regulation, discipline, and duty).
2. Pure thoughts in ones soul (loving others, blessing others, friendly, and not
criticizing or hurting others by thought, word or deed).
3. Creativity in ones head (useful and constructive).
4. Beauty in ones heart (love, service, happiness, and peace).

Get
5. Good health/body (physical strength for service).
Act
6. Help the needy with head, heart, and hands (charity). Service to the poor is
considered holier than the service to God.
7. Not hurting and torturing others either physically, verbally, or mentally.
The following are the factors that promote living, with internal and external peace:
1. Conducive environment (safe, ventilated, illuminated and comfortable).
2. Secured job and motivated with recognition and reward.
3. Absence of threat or tension by pressure due to limitations of money or time.
4. Absence of unnecessary interference or disturbance, except as guidelines.
5. Healthy labor relations and family situations.
6. Service to the needy (physically and mentally-challenged) with love and
sympathy.

CARING
Caring is feeling for others.
It is a process which exhibits the interest in, and support for, the welfare
of others with fairness, impartiality and justice in all activities, among the
employees, in the context of professional ethics.
It includes showing respect to the feelings of others, and also respecting
and preserving the interests of all others concerned. Caring is reflected in
activities such as friendship, membership in social clubs and professional
societies, and through various transactions in the family, fraternity,
community, country and in international councils.
In the present day context, caring for the environment has become
a necessity for our very survival. If we do not care for the environment,
the environment will scare us.

SHARING
Primarily, caring influences sharing. Sharing is a process that describes
the transfer of knowledge (teaching, learning, and information),
experience (training), commodities (material possession) and facilities
with others. The transfer should be genuine, legal, positive, voluntary, and
without any expectation in return. However, the proprietary information it
should not be shared with outsiders.
Through this process of sharing, experience, expertise, wisdom and other
benefits reach more people faster.
Sharing is voluntary and it can not be driven by force, but motivated
successfully through ethical principles. In short, sharing is charity

HONESTY
Honesty is a virtue, and it is exhibited in two aspects namely,
(a) Truthfulness and
(b) Trustworthiness.
Honesty is mirrored in many ways. The common reflections are:
(a) Beliefs (intellectual honesty).
(b) Communication (writing and speech). Decisions (ideas,
discretion).
(d) Actions (means, timing, place, and the goals). and
(e) Intended and unintended results achieved.

DISHONESTY
As against this, some of the actions of a professional that leads to dishonesty are:
1. Lying: Honesty implies avoidance of lying. An Professional may communicate wrong or distorted test
results intentionally or otherwise. It is giving wrong information to the right people.
2. Deliberate deception: An Professional may judge or decide on matters one is not familiar or with
insufficient data or proof, to impress upon the customers or employers. This is a self deceit.
3. Withholding the information: It means hiding the facts during communication to ones superior or
subordinate, intentionally or otherwise.
4. Not seeking the truth: Some Professionals accept the information or data, without applying their mind
and seeking the truth.
5. Not maintaining confidentiality: It is giving right information to wrong people. The engineers should keep
information of their customers/clients or of their employers confidential and should not discuss them
with others.
6. Giving professional judgment under the influence of extraneous factors such as personal benefits and
prejudice. The laws, experience, social welfare, and even conscience are given a go-bye by such
actions. Certainly this is a higher-order crime.