photo by N.K. Hoffman
The purpose of this website is to present a model for decision making that is based upon seven values that have been held in common by almost all known societies in recorded history.
The world is now at the point of interconnectivity where the failure of any of our major civilizations would be a catastrophe for all. The model outlined on this website offers a system of validating rules, laws, procedures, etc. used by families, organizations, corporations and governments to determine their sustainability for the long term. This model can also be used to design self-supporting, sustainable systems to replace those that are no longer functional.
This model can be used by units as small as a single family and a large as any major modern civilization or organized governmental unit. It is our intent that this model be made available to as many people as possible and to bring stability and sustainability to all our institutions.
What are values?
Values are the standard by which we conduct our lives. Values are the yardstick by which we measure our actions, and determine our decisions. Values are the way we choose to get along with one another in society.
What are the Seven Core Values?
The Seven Core Values are irreducible principles that could guide our behavior into a sustainable future.
These are not new concepts. The Declaration of Independence of the United States talks about Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness as well as Equality. These values have sustained civilizations for years. These are not religious; they are not political. They are human, and when used as a benchmark for our individual actions, society thrives. Civilization becomes stable—socially sustainable— as well-considered decisions can be valid for decades.
The first, and essential, value is Life itself. The first three values are the Quality of that life, the ability to Grow and express one's potential, and the opportunity to do so Equally with all others. This aspect of the recognition of equality evokes the values of Empathy, Compassion, and Love for Humanity, expressed through care and consideration of others. Taken together the Seven Core Values are what defines us as human beings.
Life
Life is the ultimate value that works as the pivotal element for the existence of the other six values that create a system of values. Decisions made about life are qualified by the other six values as the criteria for human decision-making.
Quality of Life
While life is fundamental to survival and continued existence, it is the quality of life that makes life worth living and gives life meaning. In a democracy, access to the quality of life is provided when a person not only has an equal right to life, but that person also has an equal right to growth as anyone else. This is what makes immigrants so excited to move to a democracy—they seek freedom to experience the quality of life that makes life worth living—to control their own destiny and to explore their innate potential with the opportunities that a democratic nation provides.
The world is now at the point of interconnectivity where the failure of any of our major civilizations would be a catastrophe for all. The model outlined on this website offers a system of validating rules, laws, procedures, etc. used by families, organizations, corporations and governments to determine their sustainability for the long term. This model can also be used to design self-supporting, sustainable systems to replace those that are no longer functional.
This model can be used by units as small as a single family and a large as any major modern civilization or organized governmental unit. It is our intent that this model be made available to as many people as possible and to bring stability and sustainability to all our institutions.
What are values?
Values are the standard by which we conduct our lives. Values are the yardstick by which we measure our actions, and determine our decisions. Values are the way we choose to get along with one another in society.
What are the Seven Core Values?
The Seven Core Values are irreducible principles that could guide our behavior into a sustainable future.
These are not new concepts. The Declaration of Independence of the United States talks about Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness as well as Equality. These values have sustained civilizations for years. These are not religious; they are not political. They are human, and when used as a benchmark for our individual actions, society thrives. Civilization becomes stable—socially sustainable— as well-considered decisions can be valid for decades.
The first, and essential, value is Life itself. The first three values are the Quality of that life, the ability to Grow and express one's potential, and the opportunity to do so Equally with all others. This aspect of the recognition of equality evokes the values of Empathy, Compassion, and Love for Humanity, expressed through care and consideration of others. Taken together the Seven Core Values are what defines us as human beings.
Life
Life is the ultimate value that works as the pivotal element for the existence of the other six values that create a system of values. Decisions made about life are qualified by the other six values as the criteria for human decision-making.
Quality of Life
While life is fundamental to survival and continued existence, it is the quality of life that makes life worth living and gives life meaning. In a democracy, access to the quality of life is provided when a person not only has an equal right to life, but that person also has an equal right to growth as anyone else. This is what makes immigrants so excited to move to a democracy—they seek freedom to experience the quality of life that makes life worth living—to control their own destiny and to explore their innate potential with the opportunities that a democratic nation provides.
photo by N.K. Hoffman
Growth
Growth is essential for improving our quality of life. To be human is to strive to grow into our innate potential. Our yearning to grow ensures that our innate potential becomes expressed and fulfilled, and collectively encourages an improving quality of life for everyone that results in social progress.
This value ensures that the inherent potential of individuals, societies, and a civilization becomes manifest, which encourages an improving quality of life for everyone. Without growth, there would be no possibility of social evolution and social sustainability.
Once the population of our global civilization is balanced with our planet’s natural resources, then growth has everything to do with improving the quality of life of individuals, rather than the quantitative growth of populations to support economic growth. Until then, difficult moral decisions will have to be made that move our communities and societies toward that balance.
Equality
Equality is inherent in the value of life. We give equal value to each individual, and we would seek to provide more equitable opportunity to every individual to develop their innate potential, as we would our own. Even those with less potential than others have equal value to live life to explore, develop, and express the potential they do have. Without equality, life is a competition where the resources of one’s living-potential is squandered in competitive warlike existence. Then is there no moral equity available.
The first four values have sustained our species for all these years, but what will sustain our civilizations are the next three.
Empathy
“Empathy is the experience of understanding another person's condition from their perspective. You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. Empathy is known to increase prosocial (helping) behaviors.” --Psychology Today
Compassion
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” ―Albert Einstein
Love for Humanity
“Our greatest power as nations and individuals is not the ability to employ assault weapons, suicide bombers, and drones to destroy each other. The greater more creative powers with which we may arm ourselves are grace and compassion sufficient enough to love and save each other.” ―Aberjhani, Splendid Literarium: A Treasury of Stories, Aphorisms, Poems, and Essays
Growth is essential for improving our quality of life. To be human is to strive to grow into our innate potential. Our yearning to grow ensures that our innate potential becomes expressed and fulfilled, and collectively encourages an improving quality of life for everyone that results in social progress.
This value ensures that the inherent potential of individuals, societies, and a civilization becomes manifest, which encourages an improving quality of life for everyone. Without growth, there would be no possibility of social evolution and social sustainability.
Once the population of our global civilization is balanced with our planet’s natural resources, then growth has everything to do with improving the quality of life of individuals, rather than the quantitative growth of populations to support economic growth. Until then, difficult moral decisions will have to be made that move our communities and societies toward that balance.
Equality
Equality is inherent in the value of life. We give equal value to each individual, and we would seek to provide more equitable opportunity to every individual to develop their innate potential, as we would our own. Even those with less potential than others have equal value to live life to explore, develop, and express the potential they do have. Without equality, life is a competition where the resources of one’s living-potential is squandered in competitive warlike existence. Then is there no moral equity available.
The first four values have sustained our species for all these years, but what will sustain our civilizations are the next three.
Empathy
“Empathy is the experience of understanding another person's condition from their perspective. You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling. Empathy is known to increase prosocial (helping) behaviors.” --Psychology Today
Compassion
“A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.” ―Albert Einstein
Love for Humanity
“Our greatest power as nations and individuals is not the ability to employ assault weapons, suicide bombers, and drones to destroy each other. The greater more creative powers with which we may arm ourselves are grace and compassion sufficient enough to love and save each other.” ―Aberjhani, Splendid Literarium: A Treasury of Stories, Aphorisms, Poems, and Essays
"Do to others as you would have others do to you."
--The Golden Rule
--The Golden Rule