We know a number of cultural values that govern what is socially understood as correct: truth, fidelity, justice, altruism, respect … All these forms of action place the person on the path of virtue, in the search for a constant improvement of their own conditions and their way of relate to others and to the world.
On the contrary, the so-called antivalues mark the attitudes negative of a person or group of people in front of the social rules. For instance: injustice, selfishness, impunity, lies.
Choosing the path of anti-values means ignoring the moral guidelines socially agreed as positive and related to the common good, privileging particular interests, negative impulses and other reprehensible reactions.
Examples of antivalues
Here is a brief description of the most important antivalues:
- Injustice. Lack of respect for legal or moral standards that is not properly punished or punished. He opposes justice.
- Discrimination. Lack of understanding towards the other, towards the different from different points of view: sexual, physical capacities, political inclinations, etc. It can include violence and subjugation of minorities.
- Dishonesty. It is opposed to honesty. It marks the use of incorrect or illegal means to achieve certain ends, including theft, lies and deception.
- Selfishness. The opposite of altruism. It indicates attitudes that always put individual needs above those of the whole, at an extreme level.
- Enmity. Instead of seeking friendship and harmony, the person who acts from this anti-value seeks confrontation and revenge with his fellow men.
- Slavery. Submission of a person to the requirements of another or others, without considering individual freedom or the inherent rights of every human being.
- War. Contrary to peace. Belligerent attitude of a group or country towards others, promoting armed struggle or violence of any kind.
- Ignorance. Extreme ignorance of human cultural capital or moral virtues, even when the person has the intellectual conditions to achieve understanding.
- Imitation. Attitude of copying others and making what is produced see as one’s own. Contrary to originality.
- Unproductive. Lack of concrete results in our actions, is opposed to the search for productivity and utility in what we do according to objectives set in advance.
- Imprudence. Attitude not attentive to the circumstances that are experienced and the presence of other people. The individual is guided too much by impulses, he does not know how to wait, he is not prudent.
- Impunity. In the absence of punishment for facts that deserve it, the person acts as if he had acted correctly.
- Unpunctuality. Contempt for the time of the other, breach of time guidelines in appointments, interviews, encounters, work hours, academic activities, etc.
- Indifference. Disinterest in the luck of other people or in any matter.
- Inefficiency. Doing things wrong. Contrary to efficacy.
- Inequity. Lack of balance, applied mainly in situations of social inequality when the best socioeconomic conditions are monopolized by a minority, to the detriment of a majority that does not have access to them.
- Infidelity. Breaking of a pact of fidelity and mutual respect between two people, for example when there is cheating on the part of one of the members of a marriage.
- Inflexibility. Inability to adapt to different circumstances, to change one’s mind or way of acting when necessary, or to understand multiple points of view.
- Intolerance. Incomprehension in the face of any kind of difference. The opposite value is tolerance.
- Disrespect. Not respecting other people or their needs.
- Irresponsibility. Lack of compliance with assigned tasks in a timely manner. Contrary to responsibility.
- Lie. Being untrue in any situation.
- Hate. It is opposed to love. The person has a negative and violent attitude to everything and everyone, facing others even for no apparent reason.
- Bias. Analyze or judge an issue only from your own point of view, without appreciating the rest of the views. The opposite value is fairness.
- Pride. Placing yourself above the rest, belittling other people. Contrary to the value of humility.