ABSTRACT
Values are an essential part of what people think makes their lives worthwhile. Individuals, groups or whole societies can hold them. They take the form of beliefs and attitudes, which can usually be spelled out. One’s moral and religious beliefs, together with other beliefs about the kinds of things that make life worthwhile, such as friendship, satisfaction at work, family life, love of one’s country, all constitute our values. Different groups may share some values, but may also differ in some. Sometimes these values may be incompatible. One cannot, for example, believe in religious freedom and hold that only one form of religion is to be permitted.
