Instrumental Values

Categories: Ethics/Morals

If terminal values are the life goals, instrumental values are the way to get there.

Instrument values are…well…instrumental. They’re the values like honesty, ambition, etc. that fuel a person’s ascension through difficulties, so he/she can reach that summit of accomplishment. They’re the rungs on the ladder.

They’re also what defines the way others perceive a person. This becomes critical when we inevitably need to rely on other people. Not a whole lot of people want to help out someone who’s dishonest…although the wrong type of people may want to use someone like that, and subsequently discard him/her.

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