WHEN FACTS DICTATE VALUES

“This is an example of truth dictating what must be done, of the is dictating the ought.” Abraham Maslow (1971, p. 117)

When you and I talk about values we generally talk about things that we value, we deem important, that we think it would good for us and others. But sometimes, just sometimes, we slip from a desired-value or a fact to an ought-value.

“You know, you ought to find a job.” “You ought to treat your wife and kids better.” “You ought to exercise more and lose some weight.” “You ought to communicate more if you’re going to be a leader.”

Sometimes we treat facts (what is) as if they are values (what ought to be). Is that possible? Is it possible that a fact can prescribe a value? Maslow thought they could.

“Where knowledge brings certainty of decision, action, choice and what to do, and therefore, strength of arm. This is very much like the situation with a surgeon or dentist. The surgeon opening up the abdomen and finding an inflamed appendix knows that it had better be cut out because if it bursts it will kill the person. This is an example of truth dictating what must be done, of the is dictating the ought.”

From that Maslow said that he thought “the clear perception of value is in part a consequence of the clear perception of facts.” Then he noted, “perhaps they may even be the same thing.” Pretty amazing! Could they be the same thing? How could they be the same thing? When you perceive the Being-values, you are more likely to perceive the intrinsic nature of a person or thing. This occurs for people who are self-actualizing. This seems to be “a perception of the deeper facticity” of things and, “at the same time, of the oughtness of the object.”

“Oughtness is an intrinsic aspect of deeply perceived facticity; it is itself a fact to be perceived.” (Ibid. p. 118)

All of this led him to then talk about the demand character of a fact. Sometimes, some facts carry with them a requiredness, that is, a built-in request for action. Yet who are the people who are able to see that? Maslow said those who have moved from the D-needs to the B-needs. Those who are living the value-life and seeking the being-values. Those are the healthier people who are more perceptive and who are less ought-blind. What this means is that via facts, they can perceive what the facts require—the values that they imply.

“They can therefore permit themselves ...to be guided by the facts—they will have less trouble with all value decisions that rest in the nature of reality.”

A wonderful example of this is the process of carving a turkey.

“Carving a turkey is made easier by the knowledge of where the joints are, how to handle the

knife and fork—that is, by possessing full knowledge of the facts of the situation. If the facts are fully known, they will guide us and tell us what to do. But what is also implied here is that the facts are very soft-spoken and that it is difficult to perceive them. In order to be able to hear the fact-voices it is necessary to be very quiet, to listen very receptively. That is, if we wish to permit the facts to tell us their oughtiness, we must learn to listen to them... silently, hushed, quietly, fully listening, non-interfering, receptive, patient, respectful of the matter-in-hand, courteous to the matter-in-hand.”

Compare all of that to those who seem to be lost in today’s world in terms of values and ethics. What’s wrong with them? Could it be that they are not willing to listen to the facts—the facts of life, of human nature, of economics, of relationships, etc. and let the facts dictate what they ought to do and value? If a person is blind to future possibilities, change, personal development, unleashing their potentials—he will strive for a status quo in “what is.” Yet “true freedom consists of accepting and loving the inevitable, the nature of reality.” (Ibid. p. 119)

The bottom line is that sometimes facts can dictate values. Yet this doesn’t occur to everyone or at all times. It seems to occur to those who have released their biases and cognitive distortions so that they can “hear” what a fact is suggesting. It happens to those who live the value-life of the being-values and who have learned to become ought-aware.

In fact, he said that there are some words that fuse or combine facts and values and that we should call such words fusion words. He gave as examples— mature, evolved, developed, stunted, crippled, fully functioning, graceful, awkward, fully human, etc. He said that many fusion words were

“Where knowledge brings certainty of decision, action, choice and what to do, and therefore, strength of arm. This is very much like the situation with a surgeon or dentist. The surgeon opening up the abdomen and finding an inflamed appendix knows that it had better be cut out because if it bursts it will kill the person. This is an example of truth dictating what must be done, of the is dictating the ought.”