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Max Scheler's Hierarchy of Values
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Max Scheler (1874-1928) was a German
philosopher who developed one of the most influential theories in ethics and
value philosophy. His Hierarchy of
Values provides a systematic framework for understanding how different
types of values relate to each other and guide human behavior. Unlike other
ethical theories that focus on rules or consequences, Scheler's approach
emphasizes the emotional and intuitive recognition of values that are
inherently ranked in importance.
Who Was Max Scheler?
Max Scheler was a prominent German
phenomenologist and philosopher born in Munich. He studied at the University of
Jena and became a leading figure in the phenomenological movement alongside
Edmund Husserl. Scheler's major work, "Formalism in Ethics and Non-Formal
Ethics of Values," laid the foundation for his value theory. His approach
to ethics emphasized that values are not
created by humans but are discovered through emotional experience (Scheler,
1973).
Understanding Values in Scheler's Theory
Before exploring the hierarchy, it's important to understand what
Scheler meant by "values." For Scheler:
·
Values are objective realities
that exist independently of human opinion or cultural preferences
·
Values are discovered through emotions,
not through rational thinking alone
·
Values have an inherent ranking
- some are naturally higher or more important than others
·
Values guide human behavior
and help us make decisions about what matters most
Scheler argued that we perceive values through specific emotional
acts, much like how we perceive colors through sight or sounds through hearing.
This emotional perception allows us to recognize which values are higher or
lower in the natural hierarchy.
The Four Levels of Scheler's
Hierarchy
Scheler organized values into four
distinct levels, arranged from lowest to highest. Understanding this
hierarchy helps us make better decisions and live more meaningful lives.
1. Sensory Values (Pleasant/Unpleasant Values)
Definition: These are the most basic values related to physical pleasure,
comfort, and sensory satisfaction.
Characteristics:
·
Related to immediate gratification
and physical sensations
·
Temporary and fleeting in nature
·
Focus on what feels good or bad to
the body
·
Include both pleasure (agreeable)
and pain (disagreeable)
Examples:
·
Food and drink: Enjoying a delicious meal or
refreshing beverage
·
Physical comfort: Preferring a
soft bed over sleeping on the floor
·
Sensory pleasures: Enjoying warm
sunshine, pleasant music, or beautiful fragrances
·
Entertainment: Finding joy in games, movies, or
recreational activities
·
Luxury items: Appreciating expensive clothes,
cars, or gadgets for their comfort value
Application: A teacher making learning fun through engaging activities,
colorful materials, or comfortable classroom environments operates at this
level when the primary goal is student enjoyment.
2. Vital Values (Life Values)
Definition: These values concern life, health, strength, and overall
well-being. They focus on what promotes or sustains life and vitality.
Characteristics:
·
Related to biological life and
survival
·
Focus on health, strength, and vigor
·
Concern the flourishing of life
itself
·
Distinguished by "noble"
versus "common" qualities
Examples:
·
Health and fitness: Valuing
exercise, proper nutrition, and medical care
·
Physical strength: Appreciating
athletic ability and bodily vigor
·
Courage and bravery: Showing
strength in facing challenges or dangers
·
Success and achievement:
Pursuing goals that demonstrate personal capability
·
Family and community welfare:
Working to ensure the survival and prosperity of loved ones
·
Environmental conservation:
Protecting nature to sustain life on Earth
Application: A physical education teacher emphasizing the importance of
exercise for health, or a counselor helping students develop resilience and
courage in facing life challenges.
3. Spiritual Values (Mental/Cultural Values)
Definition: These are values of the mind and spirit, including knowledge,
beauty, justice, and truth. They represent the highest achievements of human
culture and intellect.
Characteristics:
·
Independent of biological needs
·
Endure beyond individual lifespans
·
Can be shared without being
diminished
·
Include aesthetic, intellectual, and
moral dimensions
Scheler divided spiritual values into three subcategories:
A. Aesthetic Values (Beauty/Ugliness)
·
Art and creativity: Appreciating
paintings, music, literature, and other artistic expressions
·
Natural beauty: Finding value in sunsets,
landscapes, and natural phenomena
·
Design and harmony: Valuing
well-designed objects, buildings, or environments
B. Intellectual Values (Knowledge/Truth)
·
Scientific discovery: Pursuing truth
through research and investigation
·
Learning and education:
Valuing knowledge for its own sake
·
Wisdom and understanding:
Seeking deep insights into life and reality
C. Moral Values (Justice/Right and Wrong)
·
Fairness and equity: Treating people
justly regardless of personal benefit
·
Honesty and integrity: Speaking truth
and acting consistently with principles
·
Compassion and service:
Helping others and working for social good
Examples:
·
A scientist dedicating their life to finding a
cure for disease
·
An artist creating beautiful works that
inspire others
·
A teacher committed to sharing knowledge and
wisdom
·
A judge making fair decisions based on
justice rather than personal gain
·
A student studying philosophy to understand
the meaning of life
Application: A literature teacher helping students appreciate the beauty of
poetry, or a social studies teacher emphasizing the importance of justice and
human rights.
4. Holy Values (Sacred/Religious Values)
Definition: These are the highest values, relating to the sacred, divine, or
ultimate meaning. They concern our relationship with the absolute or
transcendent.
Characteristics:
·
Represent the ultimate and absolute
·
Independent of all other values
·
Evoke feelings of reverence, awe,
and worship
·
Connect humans to something greater
than themselves
·
Transcend individual and cultural
differences
Examples:
·
Religious worship: Prayer,
meditation, and spiritual practices
·
Sacred rituals: Participating in religious
ceremonies and sacraments
·
Divine love: Experiencing or expressing
unconditional love
·
Ultimate meaning: Seeking purpose
and significance beyond material existence
·
Moral calling: Feeling called to serve a higher
purpose or divine will
·
Reverence for life: Seeing all
existence as sacred and worthy of respect
Application: A chaplain or religious studies teacher helping students explore
questions of ultimate meaning, or any educator who helps students see their
learning as part of a greater purpose in life.
Five Criteria for Ranking Values
Scheler provided five
specific criteria to determine why some values rank higher than others
(Scheler, 1973):
1. Duration (Permanence)
Higher values last longer than lower values. Spiritual and holy
values are eternal, while sensory pleasures are temporary.
Example:
The joy from eating ice cream lasts minutes, but the satisfaction from acts of
justice can last a lifetime.
2. Indivisibility
Higher values can be shared without being diminished. Lower values
become less when divided among people.
Example:
Knowledge shared with others doesn't decrease, but a pizza shared with others
gives each person less.
3. Independence (Foundation)
Higher values serve as the foundation for lower values, not the
reverse. Lower values depend on higher ones for their meaning.
Example:
We pursue health (vital value) so we can better appreciate beauty and truth
(spiritual values), not vice versa.
4. Depth of Satisfaction
Higher values provide deeper, more meaningful satisfaction than
lower values.
Example:
The deep contentment from helping others surpasses the shallow pleasure from
buying new clothes.
5. Absoluteness
Higher values are less dependent on the specific characteristics
of the person experiencing them. They have universal significance.
Example:
Justice is valuable for all people regardless of culture, while certain foods
are pleasant only to those with specific tastes.
Practical Applications of the
Hierarchy
Personal Decision-Making
When facing difficult choices, Scheler's hierarchy provides guidance:
·
Career choice: Choosing a profession that serves
others (spiritual values) over one that only provides comfort (sensory values)
·
Lifestyle decisions: Prioritizing
family relationships and personal growth over material possessions
·
Time management: Dedicating time
to learning, creativity, and service rather than only entertainment
Educational Practice
Teachers can use the hierarchy to:
·
Design curriculum that moves
students from basic engagement (sensory) to deep understanding (spiritual)
·
Set learning objectives
that address multiple value levels
·
Model behavior that demonstrates higher values in
action
·
Help students reflect on what truly
matters in their lives
Social and Ethical Issues
The hierarchy helps evaluate social policies and ethical dilemmas:
·
Healthcare: Prioritizing life-saving
treatments (vital values) over cosmetic procedures (sensory values)
·
Education funding: Investing in
programs that develop character and wisdom (spiritual values) alongside basic
skills
·
Environmental protection:
Choosing long-term sustainability (vital and spiritual values) over short-term
profits (sensory values)
Common Misconceptions and
Important Notes
Values Are Not Mutually Exclusive
Scheler didn't argue that we should ignore lower values. Instead,
he emphasized that:
·
All values have their place
in a well-lived life
·
Higher values should guide
but not eliminate lower values
·
Balance is important - we need
physical health to pursue spiritual goals
Cultural Context Matters
While Scheler believed values themselves are objective, their
specific expressions can vary:
·
Holy values might be expressed through
different religions or spiritual practices
·
Spiritual values might emphasize
different aspects (art, justice, or knowledge) in different cultures
·
The hierarchy itself remains constant
across cultures, even if specific expressions differ
Individual Differences Are Natural
People may have different capacities or callings:
·
Some individuals may be
particularly gifted in aesthetic appreciation
·
Others may be called primarily to
intellectual or moral pursuits
·
The key is growth toward higher
values within one's unique circumstances
Relevance to Modern Life
Scheler's hierarchy remains highly relevant to contemporary
challenges:
Digital Age Distractions
The hierarchy helps evaluate how we spend time online:
·
Social media for entertainment
(sensory values) vs. online learning
(spiritual values)
·
Digital wellness (vital values)
vs. endless scrolling (sensory
values)
Consumer Culture
The framework provides perspective on materialism:
·
Buying for status (sensory/vital
values) vs. buying for genuine need
·
Sustainable consumption
that considers spiritual and holy values
Career and Life Purpose
The hierarchy guides major life decisions:
·
Work-life balance that honors
multiple value levels
·
Service-oriented careers
that prioritize spiritual values
·
Personal fulfillment that goes beyond
material success
Integration with Other Ethical Theories
Scheler's value hierarchy complements rather than contradicts
other ethical approaches:
·
Compatible with virtue ethics
in emphasizing character development
·
Supports consequentialism
by providing criteria for evaluating outcomes
·
Enriches deontological ethics
by explaining why certain duties matter more than others
Conclusion
Max Scheler's Hierarchy of Values
offers a comprehensive framework for understanding what makes life meaningful
and how to make ethical decisions. By recognizing that values exist in a natural hierarchy - from basic sensory pleasures
to ultimate sacred concerns - we can better prioritize our choices and live
more fulfilling lives.
The hierarchy doesn't ask us to
reject lower values but to integrate
them properly within a life oriented toward higher purposes. Whether in
personal relationships, educational settings, or broader social issues,
Scheler's insights help us recognize what truly matters and act accordingly.
Understanding this hierarchy empowers us to:
·
Make wiser decisions based on what
has lasting value
·
Develop our full potential
as human beings
·
Contribute meaningfully
to our communities and world
·
Find deeper satisfaction
in life through proper value alignment
As we face the complexities of modern life, Scheler's timeless
insights remind us that the highest
human fulfillment comes not from pursuing pleasure or power, but from
dedicating ourselves to truth, beauty, justice, and the sacred dimensions of
existence.
TEST YOURSELF
WITH THIS QUIZ:
1. According to Max Scheler, values are:
A) Created by human societies and cultures
B) Objective realities discovered through emotional experience
C) Determined by rational thinking and logical analysis
D) Relative and dependent on individual preferences
2. Which level represents the lowest values in Scheler's
hierarchy?
A) Vital values
B) Spiritual values
C) Sensory values
D) Holy values
3. An example of a vital value would be:
A) Enjoying a delicious meal
B) Pursuing physical fitness and health
C) Appreciating a beautiful painting
D) Participating in religious worship
4. Spiritual values in Scheler's system include all of the
following EXCEPT:
A) Beauty and aesthetic appreciation
B) Knowledge and truth-seeking
C) Physical strength and courage
D) Justice and moral goodness
5. According to Scheler's criteria, higher values are
characterized by all of the following EXCEPT:
A) Greater duration and permanence
B) Ability to be shared without being diminished
C) Dependence on lower values for their meaning
D) Deeper satisfaction when realized
6. Which of the following best illustrates the
"indivisibility" criterion for higher values?
A) Physical pleasures become less intense when experienced
repeatedly
B) Knowledge shared with others doesn't reduce the original knowledge
C) Expensive items become more valuable when scarce
D) Health benefits are stronger in younger people
7. The highest level in Scheler's hierarchy consists of:
A) Aesthetic values like art and beauty
B) Moral values like justice and honesty
C) Holy values relating to the sacred and divine
D) Intellectual values like scientific knowledge
8. A teacher who emphasizes the beauty of literature and the
importance of justice in history class is primarily appealing to:
A) Sensory values
B) Vital values
C) Spiritual values
D) Holy values
9. According to Scheler, when values conflict, we should
generally:
A) Choose the value that brings the most immediate pleasure
B) Select the value that benefits the most people
C) Prioritize the higher value over the lower value
D) Compromise by choosing a middle path between conflicting values
10. Scheler's hierarchy suggests that a meaningful life involves:
A) Rejecting all lower values in favor of higher ones
B) Pursuing only spiritual and holy values
C) Properly integrating all value levels with higher values guiding lower ones
D) Focusing exclusively on one type of value that matches your personality
Answer Key
1. B
- Objective realities discovered through emotional experience
Explanation: Scheler argued that
values are objective realities that exist independently of human opinion and
are discovered through specific emotional acts, not created by cultures or
determined by rational analysis alone.
2. C
- Sensory values
Explanation: Sensory values, relating
to physical pleasure and comfort, form the lowest level of Scheler's hierarchy,
followed by vital, spiritual, and holy values.
3. B
- Pursuing physical fitness and health
Explanation: Vital values concern
life, health, strength, and overall well-being. Physical fitness directly
relates to maintaining and promoting life and vitality.
4. C
- Physical strength and courage
Explanation: Physical strength and
courage are vital values, not spiritual values. Spiritual values include
aesthetic (beauty), intellectual (knowledge/truth), and moral (justice)
dimensions.
5. C
- Dependence on lower values for their meaning
Explanation: Higher values are
actually independent and serve as foundations for lower values, not dependent
on them. The other characteristics (duration, indivisibility, depth of
satisfaction) are correct criteria for higher values.
6. B
- Knowledge shared with others doesn't reduce the original knowledge
Explanation: Indivisibility means
higher values can be shared without being diminished. When you share knowledge,
you still retain all your knowledge while others gain it too.
7. C
- Holy values relating to the sacred and divine
Explanation: Holy values, which
relate to the sacred, divine, or ultimate meaning, represent the highest level
in Scheler's hierarchy, above all other value types.
8. C
- Spiritual values
Explanation: Literature appreciation
(aesthetic values) and justice (moral values) are both subcategories of
spiritual values, which represent the values of mind, culture, and higher human
achievements.
9. C
- Prioritize the higher value over the lower value
Explanation: Scheler's hierarchy
provides guidance for resolving value conflicts by generally prioritizing
higher values over lower ones, though this doesn't mean completely rejecting
lower values.
10. C
- Properly integrating all value levels with higher values guiding lower ones
Explanation: Scheler advocated for a
balanced approach where all values have their place, but higher values should
guide and give meaning to lower values rather than being rejected entirely.
References
Scheler, M. (1973). Formalism
in ethics and non-formal ethics of values (M. S. Frings & R. L. Funk,
Trans.). Northwestern University Press. (Original work published 1913-1916)
Scheler, M. (1992). On
feeling, knowing, and valuing (H. J. Bershady, Trans.). University of
Chicago Press.
