Anti-values, although little known, are one of the most important components of morality. Or, rather, immorality. And although we normally talk about the ethics behind our actions, emphasizing what should be done, focusing on the positive (or lack thereof), it is also important to keep in mind that there are values that lead us to act. evil.
In this article We will see what antivalues are, with their types and examples and why they are related to the immoral.
Anti-values are personal values that, put into perspective, can be recognized as harmful beliefs and ideals that cause suffering to the person themselves or to the rest of society.
Thus, these are predispositions to carry out behaviors that are harmful to the individual or to society.
Types of anti-securities
Antivalues can be of 4 different types: self-destructive, individualistic, anti-equality and destructive.
Self-destructive
These anti-values are characterized by leading us to perform acts that are destructive to ourselves. For example, self-harm or substance abuse in order to pcause damage to the body itself.
Individualists
These anti-values create a moral barrier that creates a separation between oneself and others, so that one’s own well-being is systematically prioritized in all areas and no matter how insignificant the privilege one opts for.
Anti-equality
These are anti-values that create moral separations between population groups that they are not defined by the moral facet of their behavior. For example, the groups “serial killers” and “civilian population” are separated by a moral distinction, but “rich people” and “poor people” are not.
In this category are the antivalues that lead to widespread destructive acts such as against the environment.
Examples
Below you can see several examples of anti-values, and why they are harmful.
1. Racism
Racism leads us to segregate people based on arbitrary characteristics which, furthermore, have nothing to do with the morality of its members. Furthermore, these groups are artificial, since there is no scientific criterion to detect white, black, etc. people.
On the other hand, attempts to link the physical and cultural characteristics that are associated with non-white communities due to stereotypes have completely failed. There is nothing to indicate that a person with lighter skin is more likely to behave more correctly than someone with darker skin.
2. Sexism
The idea that people must conform to traditional gender roles assigned to them at birth based on their physical characteristics It is also a very widespread antivalue. The reason for this is that there is simply no reason why people, whether men or women, should conform to these patterns of behavior, tastes, hobbies and preferences, etc.
3. Homophobia
The idea that homosexuality is unnatural, or that people who do not belong to the category of heterosexuality should have fewer rights is a clear form of oppression towards a group. Oppression that at best takes the form of ridicule less price and unequal access to opportunities, and at worst, to physical attacks, murders or even public executions, depending on the cultural context.
4. Religious integrity
Religious fanaticism is also an anti-value, since leads to violating the rights of others simply because of beliefs that one has decided to internalize without ever questioning them.
The idea that people in a position of privilege can exploit the most disadvantaged It is another example of anti-value that, in day-to-day practice, is usually justified using competitiveness, meritocracy or even personal improvement as an excuse. When people’s precariousness is very pronounced, they do not have the necessary freedom to choose between worthy options.
6. Egoism
The anti-value par excellence is selfishness, which is often the main root of bad behavior. The pursuit of one’s own pleasure by depriving it from others or even inflicting pain on others It is a habit that generates discomfort or even real crimes sometimes.
7. Envy
Hatred of people who are perceived as better than oneself is a way of releasing the discomfort generated by this feeling of inferiority. making someone else pay for it. Therefore, envy is an anti-value.
8. Trivialization
Equating ideas or values with a very different moral load makes the one that is more positive seem more negative and the one that is more negative is excused. For example, pointing out that a democratic political group is comparable to Nazism based on certain elements of its aesthetics or protest style makes the murder of millions of people appear to be on the same moral level as, for example, a stridency in a demonstration. or in a political speech.
