The Need to Be Formed to Values

Abstract

In his process of development, man cannot dispense with such principal values as truth, good, justice, beauty, freedom or happiness. It is, among other things, pedagogy which speaks about that which represents each value. It says how to gain values in human life, and classifies them. It proves that some of them are authentic, others are often seemingly good, and there are also relative values. Thus the whole formative process tends to work in a pupil an ability to make a choice of that which is best among variously understood proposals. The formative process aims at a harmonious integration of the chosen values in a concrete, personal life of man. Pedagogy is thus axiologically oriented, i.e. towards values.

The pupil will sooner or later be confronted with the questioning of the principal values. He will face a belief that values are essentially subjective.

The man who is incessantly confronted with apparent values, must in the formative process, to which he is subjected while at school, in his family, or in another social setting, face a clear concept of absolute values, fully comprehended by him. This is linked with his aspirations to reach the top of his potentialities, of which he is aware or not. And this is nothing but putting into practice of the plans of God the Creator He has in relation to His creation. For man cannot consciously tend towards his aim which ends half way. He may not gain the top, yet he should not lose sight of it. The formative process is to serve for this end, and this is the topic of the present work.