|
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
Synopsis Clifford Sharp's book, The Origin and Evolution of Human Values is a wide-ranging and thought-provoking work which traces the development of human values. It outlines how they are transmitted, acquired and modified. Perhaps more importantly, it also suggests which values are most needful in a fast-changing modern world. The book argues that our values have a strong genetic base - that primate and early human social groupings evolved certain behaviours favouring group cohesion and stability. While values thus have a genetic base, they are also open to change. Human societies clearly adapt values to circumstance. A value system relevant for yesterday's world is unlikely to suit tomorrow's - as indicated by such challenging issues such as genetic engineering and human cloning. This constant need to scrutinise our values is central to the book's importance. In a world of ecological degradation, conflict, poverty and hunger and with the threat of nuclear annihilation still looming, the global community needs to find an agreed set of values with which to go forward. In the author's own words: What is set out does not seek to provide a panacea for our ills but it may, properly handled, offer an approach which could help reduce some of the constantly increasing tensions both within our own culture and in its conflicts with others. | ||
|
|
|