Axiology is the study of the meaning of value, the purpose of which is to answer questions related to two main aspects, namely ethics and aesthetics.
In this case, for example, questions about what is ultimately good, bad, right, and wrong relate to different types of ethics, whereas questions about what should be considered art, what is beautiful, and related issues have to do with aesthetics.
Although the question of value is as old as philosophy itself, “ axiology ” refers primarily to the writings of Austro-German phenomenologists such as Franz Brentano, Alexius Meinong, Max Scheler, and Nicolai Hartmann.
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Their influence has spread to the Anglophone world through the writings of GE Moore, WD Ross, Roderick Chisholm, and most recently Robert Nozick.
What Is Axiology
Axiology is a word term derived from the Greek axios “value” logos “science”, which in value theory is the philosophical study of good, or value, in the broadest sense of these terms. The axiological movement emerged from the phenomenological method.
Axiologists seek to characterize the notion of value in general, in which moral values are only one species. They argue (with marked differences between them) against Kant, that goodness does not originate exclusively in the will, but exists in an objective hierarchy.
They emphasize the extent to which it is through emotions and feelings that humans find values. The idea of right action is understood in terms of values that are expressed by emotion.
Ralph Barton Perry’s book, General Theory of Value (1926), has been called a magnum opus of this new approach to value.
He theorized, value is “any object of interest.” Later, he explored eight “realms” of values: morality, religion, art, science, economics, politics, law, and customs.
Usually there is a difference between instrumental value and intrinsic value (between what is good as a means and what is good as an end).
John Dewey, in Human Nature and Conduct (1922) and Theory of Valuation (1939), presented a pragmatic interpretation and tried to break down the difference between these means and ends.
Although the latter is more of a way of emphasizing the point that many actual things in human life (such as health, knowledge, and virtue) are good in both senses.
Other philosophers, such as CI Lewis, Georg Henrik von Wright, and WK Frankena, have doubled down on the difference.
Distinguishing, for example, between instrumental value (good for some purpose) and technical value (good at doing something) or between contribution value (being good as part of a whole) and final value (being good as a whole).
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Many different answers are given to the question “What is intrinsically good?” Hedonists suggest that it is pleasure which includes pragmatic, satisfaction, growth, or adjustment; The Kantians argued that it was a good intention; Humanists argue that it is a harmonious self-realization; Christians posit that it is the love of God.
Pluralists, such as GE Moore, WD Ross, Max Scheler, and Ralph Barton Perry, argue that some things are intrinsically good. Moore, the founding father of Analytic Philosophy, developed the theory of organic wholes, arguing that the value of an aggregate depends on how they are put together.
Since “facts” denote objectivity and “values” denote subjectivity, the relationship between values and facts is of paramount importance in developing a theory of objectivity of value and of value judgments.
While descriptive sciences such as sociology, psychology, anthropology, and comparative religion all seek to provide factual descriptions of what is actually valued, as well as causal explanations of the similarities and differences to valuations, it remains the philosopher’s job to inquire about their aims.
Philosophers ask whether something is valuable because it is desired, as subjectivists such as Perry hold, or whether it is desirable because it has value, as objectivists such as Moore and Nicolai Hartmann claim.
Definition of Axiology
Axiology is a branch of the study of philosophy that considers the nature of values and what objects have value. Broadly speaking, axiologists are concerned with all forms of values, including aesthetic values, ethical values, and epistemic values.
In a narrow sense, axiologists are concerned with what is intrinsically valuable or valuable (what is desirable for its own sake).
All axiological problems are always related to ontological and epistemological assumptions. With respect to human communication theory, every researcher makes decisions in a theoretical process that reflects his axiological position.
Axiological decisions guide all aspects of research, including the choice of topics and one’s approach to social research methods.
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Definition of Axiology According to Experts
The definition of axiology according to experts, among others:
- Kattsoff (2004) , The definition of axiology is a science that investigates the nature of values which are generally viewed from a philosophical point of view.
- Wibisono (in Surajiyo, 2009) , the meaning of axiology is values as a measure of truth, ethics and morals as a normative basis for research and exploration, as well as the application of knowledge.
- Jujun S. suriasumantri , The meaning of axiology is a theory of value related to the usefulness of the knowledge acquired.
Axiological Aspects
The axiological aspect of philosophy examines matters relating to values and morals in human life. Axiology raises two branches of philosophy that discuss aspects of the quality of human life, namely ethics and aesthetics.
1. Ethics
Social ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that “involves systematizing, defending, and recommending the concepts of right and wrong behavior”. The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, is concerned with questions of value, and thus comprises a branch of philosophy called axiology.
Ethics seeks to resolve questions about human morality by defining concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and evil. As a field of intellectual study, moral philosophy is related to the fields of moral psychology, descriptive ethics, and value theory.
The three main areas of study in ethics that are recognized today are:
- Meta-ethics, about the theoretical meaning and reference of moral propositions, and how their truth value (if any) can be determined
- Normative ethics, about practical ways to determine a moral action
- Applied ethics, about what a person must do in certain situations or certain areas of action
2. Aesthetics
Aesthetic value is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty and taste, as well as the philosophy of art (its own philosophical area that comes out of aesthetics). It tests subjective and sensory-emotional values, or as they are sometimes called sentiment and taste judgments.
Aesthetics includes both natural and artificial sources derived from experience and aesthetic judgement. Consider what happens in our minds when we engage with aesthetic objects or environments as in viewing visual art, listening to music, reading poetry, experiencing games, exploring nature, and so on.
Art philosophy specifically studies how artists imagine, create, and perform works of art, and how people use, enjoy, and criticize their art.
These explanations have to do with how people feel about art in general, why they like some works of art and not others, and how art can influence our moods or even beliefs.
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Axiology Section
Bramel argues that axiology can be divided into three parts, namely;
- Moral conduct , namely moral action, this one field gave birth to a special discipline, which we know as ethics.
- Esthetic expression , namely the expression of beauty. This field raises or gives birth to a beauty.
- Socio-political life , namely social and political life, which will give birth to or give rise to socio-political philosophy.
Axiology Function
As stated above, axiology is a field of philosophy that examines value issues, especially in ethics and aesthetics. This philosophy tells us about good and evil.
Axiology is the science of values. This explanation discusses value from a philosophical point of view. Axiology, especially, determines good and bad for individuals and nations. It sets the standard for both good and bad. All of our social life is largely based on this branch of philosophy.
An example of axiology
Axiology is more than just stating what is valuable or not valuable, those who study in this field try to put forward reasons why something has value or not. For example, as follows;
- Legals norm
The function of legal norms, especially if the death penalty is wrong, why is it wrong? Is it because this type of punishment is unfair? If yes, why is it unfair?
If it’s because human life has value that it shouldn’t be deliberately taken by other humans, then what (if anything) can convey that value? Does society or culture provide this value?
Or, in other words, is there a way to ground (i.e. to establish an immutable principle underlying some reason) our value claim? There is widespread disagreement about many aspects of axiology, but it remains an interesting and lively topic.
That was the article that we can present to all groups regarding the definition of axiology according to experts, aspects, functions, parts, and examples in society in everyday life. Hope this gives insight to those of you who need it.