A philosopher by the name of Charles Taylor showed a strong connection between a sense of identity and one's notion of what is ‘good.’ His contribution to the genesis of values lies in this linkage. Taylor describes how morals become separated from moral sources as procedural reason and an interpretive view of nature gained influence over substantive reason and moral sources. Our view of what is valuable is described by a set of moral beliefs and philosophies, but Taylor shows the concealment of moral sources that such views inevitably undergo. He sees possibilities of steadying modern moral commitments not only in traditional theistic sources but also in those modern sources of constituted goods.
Joas continues to identify the linkages provided by Taylor: “Interpretation and experience are neither independent of one another, nor or they reducible to one another." (Joas, 163). In other words, Taylor discredits approaches to defining the self without reference to moral goods that orient one's sense of place and purpose in the world. This revolves around the way in which we think of ourselves as people who have a sense of what is important to us, of what we most care about, and of what is valuable.
Joas, H. (2000). The Genesis of Values. Chicago, IL: The University of Chicago.
Lieutenant Ken Rice is an Active Duty Naval Officer stationed in Norfolk VA. He is currently assigned to Commander, Naval Surface Force's Warfare Requirments Directorate as the FORCEnet Requirements Officer. Lieutenant Rice is responsible for the program analasys and budget oversight for Information Technology Transformation for the Surface Fleet. He is currently enrolled at Regent University working towards a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership.
